G20 Labour 20 (L-20) Summit

• 26 Jun 2023

Why in News?

The Labour 20 (L-20) Summit was held in Patna, the capital of Bihar from June 21-23, 2023. Topics such as 'Universal Social Security' and 'Women and Future of Work' were discussed extensively.

Key Points:

• The Labour-20 Summit held in Patna resolved to create a multilateral mechanism between G20 member countries and other allied countries on the ability to easily access social security benefits.
• Speaking on the occasion, All India President of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh Hiranmay Pandya said that the report of the Task Force on 'International Migration of Workers - Easy Access to Social Security Funds Internationally' was discussed in detail at the summit.
• It is known that in the establishment meeting of Labour-20 Summit held on 18, 19 and 20 March 2023 in Amritsar, 5 task forces related to major issues in the world of work were formed - Universal Social Security, Women and the Future of Work, International Migration of Workers - The Right to Access Social Security Funds to the International Level, The changing world of work: new job opportunities in the G20 countries and Challenges and Skill Development: Roles and Responsibilities of the Stakeholders
• The widespread use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was discussed in detail, highlighting its positive effects such as increased labour productivity, income growth and better living standards.
• Harmonising technological innovation with sustainable and equitable changes is a key aspect of Draft No. 1 of L20, Patna, which needs to be thoroughly studied and aligned with the policy framework.
• The establishment of a tripartite board, comprising representatives of the government, aggregator companies & trade unions, can take effective decisions and facilitate policy-making, the conference said. This collaborative approach ensures that the perspectives and interests of all stakeholders are considered, thereby promoting a more balanced & inclusive work environment.
• The report of the Task Force on 'Women and the Future of Work' was discussed in detail at the Summit. The Task Force proposed to provide incentives and create a supportive environment to increase women's participation in the private sector and promote their leadership roles.
• At the conference, the task force recommended that the global workforce faces significant challenges in accessing social security, with 61% of informal sector workers lacking such coverage. To address this issue, it is important to imagine a third model of social security, which combines the principles of both contributory and non-contributory systems.
• The task force recommended that the skill training programme should include green skills to bridge the global skill gap. To ensure that the skills acquired in one country are recognised in another country, a common qualification framework is required.
• The deliberations at the summit were attended by trade union leaders and representatives of Indian trade unions as well as labour experts from 28 countries. The summit also discussed labour-related issues that emerged at the meetings of Civil 20, Women 20, Youth 20 and Science 20.
• The summit discussed the feasibility of a joint statement between Labour-20 and Business-20 in the presence of Business-20 representatives.