The Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) hosted a high level tripartite Asia-Pacific meeting on Socially-Inclusive Strategies to Extend Social Security Coverage on 19-20 May 2008 in New Delhi. The two-day conference was held at Vigyan Bhawan and was inaugurated by Mr. Oscar Fernandes, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Government of India.

The aim of the conference was to identify a set of policy approaches that countries could use to pursue the effective and progressive extension of social security coverage, particularly to workers in the informal economy. The specific objectives of the meeting were: 1) To share knowledge and experiences regarding strategies and mechanisms for the extension of social security; 2) To identify good practices and encourage initiatives and responses to emerging challenges; and 3) To foster a consensual approach or approaches to issues of extension of coverage.

While addressing the gathering, Juan Somavia, Director General, ILO, said, “India is making a determined effort to extend basic social security coverage and a number of important measures have been initiated, especially in the informal economy.” Although four out of five people in the world lack basic social protection, Somavia expressed the satisfaction that many countries have recognised that social security underpins balanced social and economic development and is a powerful tool to fight poverty and inequality in all societies. He said that it is the key to unleashing the full productive potential of workers, enabling them to go beyond their survival issues and to enhance their potential.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Fernandes said that the Indian government is committed to providing social security and social protection to all the workers in the informal sector also. He said that a conscious attempt has been made by the government through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which provides for at least 100 days of employment guarantee in a year to unemployed rural workers.

Assane Diop, Executive Director, Social Protection Sector of ILO, also applauded India`s ‘path-breaking’ efforts in providing social security coverage through the NREGS and through the Unorganised Sector Workers` Social Security Bill. He said that extending social security not only makes for good social policy in political and economic terms but also stands to be seen as a vital investment in a country’s human resources and its social stability that is a prerequisite for progress.

The aims of the conference include helping delegates to share experiences regarding the ways of extending social security coverage and dealing with emerging challenges, identifying good practices and fostering consensus on ways to proceed. The conference brought together the representatives of governments, workers and employers from 21 Asia Pacific countries, namely, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam. A number of international agencies, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the International Social Security Association (ISSA), closely concerned with social protection issues, were represented by observers.