21 November — Geneva. The ILO Partnerships Department held a productive meeting today with senior representatives from India’s Ministry of Labour and Employment to review ongoing collaboration in the areas of skills development and employment generation.
The Indian delegation included Mr. Ajoy Sharma, Joint Secretary, and Mr. Prashant Baijal, Joint Director, who met with ILO officials to assess progress on the India-funded Skills Taxonomy Project, an initiative positioned within the wider G20 framework. The project aims to harmonize skills classification systems, strengthen comparability across labour markets, and support evidence-based policymaking for workforce development.
Discussions also covered India’s longstanding role as a funding partner through both the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and the IBSA Fund, which support a range of ILO initiatives focused on skills development, job creation, and promoting inclusive growth across the Global South.
The meeting further highlighted India’s upcoming BRICS presidency in 2026, exploring potential areas for enhanced cooperation aligned with the bloc’s priorities, particularly in relation to labour mobility, skills recognition, and South-South knowledge exchange.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration that advances decent work, strengthens skills ecosystems, and delivers sustainable development impact in partner countries.