What is the Integrated Skills-Based Migration Pathways initiative?
The initiative aims to expand job opportunities globally for skilled professionals. It encourages the movement of skilled professionals between origin and destination countries, addressing global skill gaps and promoting the formalization of the workforce. This would be a sustainable method to finance social protection for all workers.
How does this initiative benefit both the origin and destination countries?
Leaders at the G20 summit recognized that this initiative allows countries to leverage the demographic dividends of their workforce globally. Destination countries benefit from filling skill gaps and enhancing their workforce with international expertise, while origin countries can see their professionals gaining international experience and exposure.
What role does India play in this initiative?
India stands as a significant stakeholder, aiming to leverage its demographic dividend globally. The initiative opens avenues for the Indian workforce in non-traditional sectors such as teaching, agriculture, and manufacturing, marking India as a talent capital in the global arena.
How will the initiative affect skilled professionals from India?
According to Rituparna Chakraborty, co-founder of Teamlease Services, the initiative is a big positive, creating more job opportunities and allowing professionals to gain exposure to international norms and standards. It would also enable professionals to upgrade their skills further.
What has been the response from international organizations to this initiative?
International organizations have welcomed the initiative, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) director-general praising the G20 leaders for their support of the United Nations Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions. This UN initiative aims to create 400 million jobs and extend social protection to 4 billion people currently excluded.
What commitments have been made regarding employment at the G20 summit?
Leaders committed to promoting sustainable, quality, healthy, safe, and gainful employment. The summit also emphasized the importance of ensuring adequate and sustainable social protection and decent work opportunities for gig and platform workers, eyeing a sustainable and equitable future.
What are the future expectations from this initiative?
The initiative is seen as a positive step toward building a sustainable and equitable future. The momentum gained from the G20 summit discussions is expected to be carried forward, particularly at the UN SDG Summit later in the month, to address crucial future work issues and foster global collaboration for job creation and social protection.
How does the initiative aim to address the global skill gap?
Efforts are being made to map and address global skill gaps through the strengthening of national statistical data systems, thus fostering an environment where skill gaps can be identified and addressed efficiently and effectively, helping in the global movement of skilled professionals.
Who are some of the notable voices supporting this initiative?
Notable supporters include Deepak Sood, the Secretary-General of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), and Gilbert F Houngbo, the director-general of the International Labour Organization (ILO), among others.
How will this initiative help in the formalization of the workforce?
The initiative aims to create structured migration pathways for skilled professionals, leading to a formalization of the workforce, which in turn ensures better social protection and creates a sustainable financing mode for social protections globally.
