MoS Shobha Karandlaje Addresses Plenary Session at 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva; Highlights India’s Labour Reforms, Social Protection and Digital Public Infrastructure

1. At a Glance

• Union MoS (Labour & Employment; MSME) Shobha Karandlaje led the Indian tripartite delegation to the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), Geneva (1–12 June 2026) and delivered the country's plenary address on 11 June 2026 [S1][S2].
• The address showcased India's four Labour Codes, expansion of social security coverage, the eShram unorganised-workers' database, and use of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for welfare delivery, framed by the principle of 'Antyodaya' [S1][S3].
• Examinable on three axes: (i) International institution (ILO/ILC), (ii) Labour law reform (codes), and (iii) DPI-driven social protection — straddling GS-II and GS-III.

2. Why in the News

• 11 June 2026: MoS Karandlaje addressed the plenary of the 114th ILC in Geneva; held a bilateral with the ILO Director-General highlighting rapid expansion of India's social security coverage over the past decade [S1].
• Comes immediately after the four Labour Codes were brought into force on 21 November 2025, rationalising 29 central labour laws [S3].
• The 114th ILC itself is consequential: it took up the second standard-setting discussion on decent work in the platform economy and a general discussion on gender equality in the world of work [S2].

3. Background & Evolution

• ILO: established 1919 (Treaty of Versailles); only League of Nations body to survive; UN specialised agency since 1946; HQ Geneva; tripartite structure (Govt + Employers + Workers) [S2].
• India: founding member of ILO (1919); permanent member of ILO Governing Body since 1922; has ratified 6 of the 8 fundamental ILO Conventions (not C-87 and C-98 on freedom of association/collective bargaining).
• Labour Codes evolution: Second National Commission on Labour (2002) recommended consolidation → Code on Wages, 2019 → Industrial Relations Code, Code on Social Security, OSH&WC Code — all 2020 → operationalised 21 Nov 2025 [S3].
• eShram portal: launched 26 Aug 2021; 'One-Stop Solution' upgrade by Min. Mansukh Mandaviya; >30.43 crore unorganised workers registered [S4].

4. Core Static Facts

• Event: 114th Session, International Labour Conference, Geneva, 1–12 June 2026, across CICG, Palais des Nations and ILO HQ [S2].
• ILO membership: 187 Member States [S2].
• Indian delegate (Plenary): Ms. Shobha Karandlaje, MoS (Independent Charge implied) for Labour & Employment and MSME [S1].
• Guiding principle invoked: 'Antyodaya' (welfare of the last person) [S1].
• Four Labour Codes (consolidate 29 laws) [S3]:
• Code on Wages, 2019 — subsumes Payment of Wages 1936, Minimum Wages 1948, Payment of Bonus 1965, Equal Remuneration 1976.
• Industrial Relations Code, 2020 — subsumes Trade Unions Act 1926, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act 1946, Industrial Disputes Act 1947.
• Code on Social Security, 2020 — extends coverage to gig/platform/unorganised workers.
• Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 — mandates free annual health check-up and formal appointment letter [S3].
• Effective date of all 4 codes: 21 November 2025 [S3].
• eShram registrations: >30.43 crore unorganised workers [S4].
• Constitutional anchor: Labour is in the Concurrent List (Entry 22, 23, 24 of List III); DPSPs Art. 39, 41, 42, 43, 43A.
• 114th ILC agenda items: platform-economy standard-setting (2nd discussion), social dialogue & tripartism, gender equality at work [S2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Labour Codes aim to lower compliance cost, ease firm-size thresholds (IR Code: layoff/closure permission threshold raised from 100 → 300 workers) and formalise contracts [S3]. - Karandlaje flagged rising youth employability and women's workforce participation — aligned with FLFPR trend (PLFS) [S1].

Social - Social Security Code, 2020 statutorily covers gig and platform workers for the first time; aggregators required to contribute 1–2% of turnover (capped at 5% of payments to workers) to a Social Security Fund [S3]. - eShram is the world's largest unorganised-workers database, enabling targeted delivery via DBT/Aadhaar rails [S4].

Legal / Constitutional - Codes use the Concurrent List; states must notify their own rules — partial reason for the 5-year gap between enactment (2019/20) and notification (Nov 2025) [S3].

Geopolitical / Institutional - India is among ILO's 10 permanent members of the Governing Body (industrial importance). Engagement at ILC projects India's DPI model as a Global South template for welfare delivery [S1][S2].

Scientific / Technological (DPI angle) - India presented eShram + Aadhaar + UPI + DigiLocker stack as a portable, scalable social-protection backbone — relevant to ILO's platform-economy discussion [S1][S2].

Administrative - Codes reduce registers/returns/licences drastically and introduce single registration & single licence with web-based inspection through randomised allocation [S3].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 21 Nov 2025: Government notifies all four Labour Codes as effective [S3].
• Jun 2024: At 112th ILC, Secretary Sumita Dawra showcased eShram as India's flagship for unorganised workers [S7].
• 2024–25: eShram registrations cross 30 crore mark [S4].
• 11 Jun 2026: MoS Karandlaje delivers plenary at 114th ILC; bilateral with ILO DG on expanded social security coverage [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• ILO HQ — Geneva; founded 1919; UN specialised agency since 1946 [S2].
• ILO is tripartite — Govt + Employers + Workers (unique in UN system) [S2].
• 187 Member States in ILO [S2].
• 114th ILC dates: 1–12 June 2026 [S2].
• Four Labour Codes operationalised on 21 November 2025, replacing 29 central labour laws [S3].
• Code on Wages, 2019 — only code passed in 2019; the other three in 2020 [S3].
• OSH Code, 2020 mandates free annual health check-up and formal appointment letter [S3].
• eShram launched 26 Aug 2021; >30.43 crore registrations [S4].
• Labour is in Concurrent List (Entries 22–24, List III).
• 114th ILC took up standard-setting on decent work in the platform economy (2nd discussion) [S2].
• India's plenary delegate at 114th ILC: Shobha Karandlaje, MoS Labour & MSME [S1].
• Guiding philosophy cited in address: Antyodaya [S1].
• India has ratified 6 of 8 ILO fundamental conventions (not C-87, C-98).

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Important international institutions (ILO); Government policies for vulnerable sections.
• GS-III: Indian Economy — employment, growth, mobilisation of resources; inclusive growth.
• Probable stems: 1. "The Four Labour Codes mark the most significant labour reform since Independence. Critically examine their implications for workers' welfare and ease of doing business." 2. "Discuss how Digital Public Infrastructure (e.g. eShram) is redefining social protection for unorganised and platform workers in India." 3. "India's engagement with the ILO has shifted from rule-taker to norm-shaper. Comment in light of the 114th ILC."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• eShram portal — flagship DPI for unorganised workers [S4].
• PLFS / Periodic Labour Force Survey — measures FLFPR, unemployment rate.
• Social Security Code, 2020 — gig/platform worker provisions.
• ILO Fundamental Conventions (especially the two unratified by India: C-87, C-98).
• PM-SYM, PM-JAY, Atal Pension Yojana — social security architecture.
• Concurrent List entries on labour (Constitutional law).
• Digital Public Infrastructure (India Stack) — for GS-III tech.
• Second National Commission on Labour (2002) — origin of code consolidation.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Year confusion: Code on Wages is 2019; the other three Codes are 2020; operationalised 2025 — not the same year.
• ILO ≠ UN body created in 1945: ILO predates the UN (founded 1919); became a UN specialised agency in 1946.
• Ministry: Labour Codes are under Ministry of Labour & Employment, NOT MSME (Karandlaje holds both portfolios — easy trap).
• eShram is for unorganised workers, NOT all workers; portal under MoLE, not MeitY.
• 114th ILC vs 112th ILC: eShram was showcased at the 112th ILC (2024); the 114th (2026) plenary focused on Labour Codes implementation [S2][S7].
• ILO has 187 members, NOT 193 (that's UN general membership).

11. Sources

• [S1] Press Release Page — MoS Shobha Karandlaje Addresses Plenary, 114th ILC — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2271573 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] 114th Session of the International Labour Conference — https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-conference/114th-session-international-labour-conference — (tier: 2)
• [S3] Government Makes the Four Labour Codes Effective — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2192463 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] Over 30.43 Crore Unorganised Workers Registered on eShram Portal — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2081181 — (tier: 1)
• [S5] Guide of the 114th Session of the ILC (2026) — https://www.ilo.org/resource/other/ilc/ilc114/guide-114th-session-international-labour-conference-2026 — (tier: 2)
• [S6] India's Labour Reforms: Simplification, Security, and Sustainable Growth — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2192524 — (tier: 1)
• [S7] eShram portal showcased during 112th ILC at Geneva — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2026731 — (tier: 1)