G20 Meeting in Guwahati Discusses Employment, Social Welfare, and Sustainable Growth

The G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting recently held in Guwahati focused on crucial topics related to labor, employment, and social welfare. The discussions revolved around finding solutions for global skill gaps, extending social protection coverage to gig and platform workers, and establishing sustainable financing mechanisms for social protection in the long run.

The three-day meeting aimed to address priority labor, employment and social issues for strong, sustainable, balanced, and job-rich growth for all. The meeting saw active participation from delegates representing the G20 member countries, who discussed various proposals to improve the employment scenario globally.

The second meeting of the Employment Working Group (EWG) of the G20 grouping was held in Assam from April 4-6, 2023. The focus of the meeting was on labor, employment, and social welfare for inclusive growth.

Delegates from all G20 member countries attended the meeting to discuss various issues under three broad areas. The agenda of the EWG meeting was to address priority labor, employment, and social issues for strong, sustainable, balanced, and job-rich growth for all.

The first area of discussion centered on global skill gaps. Delegates discussed ways to strengthen the availability, quality, and comparability of information on supply, demand, and mismatch of skills. They also explored the feasibility of constructing a global skills taxonomy and developing harmonization pathways in key sectors.

The need for harmonization pathways arises because different countries have different skill requirements, and a standardized framework for skill development and training can help in bridging the gap.

The second theme of the meeting was to extend social protection coverage to gig and platform workers. The gig economy refers to the labor market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs. Platform workers, on the other hand, are those who provide services through digital platforms, such as Uber or Airbnb.

These workers often lack social protection coverage, and the aim of this theme was to provide them with social protection coverage.

The final segment of the meeting was sustainable financing for social protection. Delegates discussed how to establish sustainable financing mechanisms for social protection in the long run. Social protection is essential for promoting decent work and reducing poverty, and sustainable financing is crucial for ensuring that it is available to all those who need it.

The discussions centered on the Draft Ministerial Declaration, which was circulated to the G20 member countries. The comments and suggestions received from the member countries were incorporated into the Draft, which was being discussed in the 2nd EWG meeting.

The declaration aims to provide a framework for policymakers to promote strong, sustainable, balanced, and job-rich growth for all.

In a related event, Nagaland hosted the fourth and final event of B20 being organized in the northeast region. The B20 conference, which is the official G20 dialogue forum for the global business community, was held in Kohima from April 4-6.

The conference witnessed 64 overseas delegates from 29 countries. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio highlighted the state’s rich tradition and culture and emphasized its commitment to hosting a successful B20 conference.

The G20 Employment Working Group meeting in Guwahati was a significant step towards finding sustainable solutions for various employment-related challenges that countries face. The meeting provided an opportunity for the delegates to share their thoughts and experiences on the employment situation in their respective countries.

The discussions revolved around finding solutions for global skill gaps, extending social protection coverage to gig and platform workers, and establishing sustainable financing mechanisms for social protection in the long run. The meeting was a reminder of the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing global challenges.

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