The global stock of international migrants reached 284.5 million in 2022, with 255.7 million of them of working age (15 and over), according to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers, released in Geneva on Monday. The number of international migrants in the labour force, both employed and unemployed, was 167.7 million — over 30 million more people than in 2013 in 2022.

The distribution of international migrants in the labour force in Northern, Southern, and Western Europe increased marginally between 2013 and 2022, from 22.5% to 23.3%, partly because of changes in the migration policy to accommodate the growing labour market. ”In North America, the proportion of international migrants in the labour force decreased from 23.8% in 2013 to 22.6% in 2022, which could be the outcome of the nature of migration policies over the years,” the report noted.

Europe preferred

The report said that in 2022, international migrants in the labour force were concentrated in Europe and Central Asia, accounting for 34.5% of them (57.8 million), followed by the Americas at 27.3% (45.8 million), Asia and the Pacific at 16.2% (27.2 million), the Arab States at 13.5%, (22.6 million), and Africa at 8.5% (14.3 million). The majority of the international migrants in the labour force in 2022 resided in Northern, Southern and Western Europe (23.3%); Northern America (22.6%); and the Arab States (13.5%). “Collectively, these three regions hosted 59.4% of all international migrants in the labour force. From 2013 to 2022, the distribution of international migrants in the labour force by region remained relatively stable,” the report said.

The share of international migrants in the labour force in the Arab States too slightly decreased from 13.8% in 2017 to 13.5% in 2022. “Among the other subregions, South-Eastern Asia and the Pacific, as well as Central and Western Asia, experienced an increase in the share of international migrants in the labour force,” the report said. Foreign migrants represented more than one third of the labour force of the Arab States (37.2%). Europe and Central Asia (12.9%) and the Americas (9%) also had significant proportions of migrants in their labour force.

High-income countries

The majority of migrants in the labour force were concentrated in high-income countries, which accounted for 68.4% of the total (114.7 million people), followed by 17.4% (29.2 million) in upper-middle-income countries. Of the 167.7 million migrants in the labour force in 2022, 155.6 million were employed, while 12.1 million were unemployed. “Significant gender disparities persisted, as migrant women had an employment-to-population ratio of only 48.1%, compared to 72.8% for migrant men,” the ILO said.

“Migrant workers are indispensable in addressing global labour shortages and contributing to economic growth,” said ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo. “Ensuring their rights and access to decent work is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity,” he added.

“This edition of the Social Dialogue Report is published amid economic and geopolitical instability,” said ILO’s Assistant Director-General for Governance, Rights and Dialogue Manuela Tomei. File
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The Social Dialogue Report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), released in Geneva on Wednesday (December 11, 2024), has recommended the governments to uphold fundamental principles and rights at work, especially freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.

The report, focusing on ‘peak-level social dialogue’ (PLSD), also asked the member countries to equip labour administrations and social partners with the necessary resources and technical capacities for effective participation in PLSD.

It found that countries’ compliance with freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining had deteriorated by 7% between 2015 and 2022. “This decline was driven by an increase in violations of the fundamental civil liberties and bargaining rights of employers, workers, and their representative organisations,” the report said.

The report argues that social dialogue can enable countries to pursue economic development alongside social progress, while ensuring fair and inclusive low-carbon and digital transitions. The ILO has also recommended the national social dialogue institutions (NSDIs) of various countries to expand their outreach to under-represented groups. Conducting regular, evidence-based evaluations of the role and influence of PLSD institutions in socio-economic decision-making is another suggestion in the report.

The report adds that PLSD involves processes that bring together representatives of governments, employers’ and business membership organisations (EBMOs) and workers’ organisations (the social partners) at the national and sectoral levels. “These processes are designed to facilitate negotiation, consultation and information exchange on issues relating to labour, economic and social policy. PLSD includes bipartite processes – where only the social partners engage, notably for reaching collective agreements – as well as tripartite processes, which also involve government representatives,” the report said.

For fair solutions

“This edition of the Social Dialogue Report is published amid economic and geopolitical instability,” said ILO’s Assistant Director-General for Governance, Rights and Dialogue Manuela Tomei. “In a context where technological advances, climate change and demographic shifts are deeply transforming labour markets, social dialogue remains a credible governance model for navigating complexity, identifying fair solutions and advancing social justice,” Ms. Tomei said releasing the report.

The report is prepared based on case studies, industrial relations data, a global review of PLSD processes and outcomes and a perceptions survey of 71 employers’ and workers’ organisations in 38 countries, including India, on the effectiveness and inclusiveness of the NSDI.

The report has highlighted the experience of Rajasthan that brought in the Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill to provide for the establishment of the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Welfare Board. “The welfare board has 12 members, six from the government and two representatives each of gig workers, aggregators and civil society,” the report said.

A major reason for the fall in labour income is artificial intelligence, says an ILO report.
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Inequality is on the rise as the share of labour income has stagnated worldwide and a large share of youth remain out of employment, education, or training, according to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) World Employment and Social Outlook: September 2024 Update, released in Geneva on Wednesday (September 4, 2024). A major reason for this fall in labour income, according to the report, is artificial intelligence or AI.

The ILO analysed the impact of technological innovations over the last two decades across 36 countries and said that, while these innovations have produced persistent increases in labour productivity and output, they can also reduce the labour income share. “This is consistent with automation-based technological innovations driving the aggregate effects,” the ILO said, warning that the absence of a stronger policy response across a wide range of relevant domains could push the labour income share still further down.

To mitigate the potential adverse impacts on inequality, the benefits of technological progress should be widely distributed, it said.

COVID worsened inequalities

The report also indicated slow progress on key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as their 2030 deadline approaches. The study revealed that the global labour income share, which represents the portion of total income earned by workers, fell by 0.6 percentage points from 2019 to 2022 and has since remained flat, compounding a long-running downward trend. “If the share had remained at the same level as in 2004, labour income would be larger by $2.4 trillion in 2024 alone,” the report said. 

It added that the COVID-19 pandemic was a key driver of this decline, with nearly 40% of the reduction in the labour income share occurring during the pandemic years of 2020 to 2022. “The crisis exacerbated existing inequalities, particularly as capital income continues to concentrate among the wealthiest, undermining progress towards SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequality within and among countries,” it said. 

“Countries must take action to counter the risk of declining labour income share. We need policies that promote an equitable distribution of economic benefits, including freedom of association, collective bargaining and effective labour administration, to achieve inclusive growth, and build a path to sustainable development for all,” said Celeste Drake, ILO Deputy Director-General, releasing the report. 

Employment scenario in India grim, says ILO report

India’s youth account for almost 83% of the unemployed workforce and the share of youngsters with secondary or higher education in the total unemployed youth has almost doubled from 35.2% in 2000 to 65.7% in 2022, as per the India Employment Report 2024 released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD) here on Tuesday. The youth employment and underemployment increased between 2000 and 2019 but declined during the pandemic years, the study, released by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran, said, adding that educated youths have experienced much higher levels of unemployment in the country during the period.

Photojournalists covering AAP protest face police’s wrath

Photojournalists covering the Aam Aadmi Party protests were harassed by the Delhi Police on Tuesday. The matter escalated between members of the press and police forces as photojournalists were attempting to click pictures of AAP leaders protesting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. Salman Ali, a photojournalist with the Hindustan Times, was injured during the exchange, fracturing his elbow. Mr. Ali told The Hindu that there was heavy police force, and they were misbehaving with members of the media, going to the extent of grabbing a fellow photojournalist’s collar. 

IPL-17: CSK vs GT | Super Kings put on a regal display to subdue Titans with consummate ease

Like most Indian venues, Chepauk is used to the chants of ‘Sachin, Sachin’ while cheering the nation’s most celebrated cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar, in his playing days .Figuring in only his second IPL match, Rachin Ravindra found a way into the hearts of the city’s passionate fans, who quickly belted out ‘Rachin, Rachin’ as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener produced another impressive cameo that laid the foundation for the defending champion’s thumping 63-run win over Gujarat Titans at the MAC Stadium on Tuesday.

In its seventh list, Congress announces four candidates for Chhattisgarh

The Congress on Tuesday announced its seventh list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. The list has five names — four, including two women candidates, from Chhattisgarh, and one from Tamil Nadu.  With these four — Shashi Singh from Surguja, Dr. Menka Devi Singh from Raigarh, Biresh Thakur from Kanker [all three seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST)] and Devendra Singh Yadav from Bilaspur — the party has now announced all the names from Chhattisgarh that has 11 parliamentary constituencies.

Crew of cargo ship that lost power and collided with bridge in Baltimore, U.S. are all Indian

The entire 22-member crew of the cargo ship that struck a major bridge in Baltimore early on March 26, causing it to snap and plunge into the river below are Indians, the company said. The Singapore-flagged container ship “Dali” collided with one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore at approximately 1:30 am local time. According to the vessel information provided by the Synergy Marine Group, the crew was “All Indian, 22 in total”.

Ladakh activist Wangchuk ends 21-day fast, urges PM Modi, Amit Shah to deliver on promises

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on March 26 (Tuesday) ended his 21-day fast in Leh, as he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to “prove themselves as statesmen” .“It was for 21days. From tomorrow, women’s groups will start their fast and will be followed by youth, then monks and so on,” Mr. Wangchuk told The Hindu. Mr. Wangchuk has visibly grown frail and his voice has also strained. The Ladakhi activist has matched the longest fast held by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom movement.

Big tech told to identify AI deepfakes ahead of EU vote

The EU called on Facebook, TikTok and other tech titans on March 26 to crack down on deepfakes and other AI-generated content by using clear labels ahead of Europe-wide polls in June .The recommendation is part of a raft of guidelines published under a landmark content law by the European Commission for digital giants to tackle risks to elections including disinformation. The EU executive body has unleashed a string of measures to clamp down on big tech, especially regarding content moderation.

RJD, Congress hold talks to iron out differences over seats

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress leaders held talks on Tuesday to sort out the differences that have emerged between the two allies over the seat-sharing arrangements in Bihar. The much-awaited meeting took place at senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik’s official residence here after a week of tussle. Mr. Wasnik is the convener of his party’s alliance committee. Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh and AICC in-charge Mohan Prakash were also present. Another meeting could take place on Wednesday before a final agreement is announced in Patna.

ED attaches ₹124.57-crore assets in Religare Finvest Limited case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached immovable properties worth ₹124.57 crore belonging to RS Infrastructure, Kenwood Mercantile, Goodfaith Builders and other suspects in a case related to Religare Finvest Limited and others. The agency, in a statement, said Kenwood Mercantile and Goodfaith Builders were entities belonging to the M3M group, a Gurugram-based realtor. “Land measuring 430 acres in Gurugram/Faridabad belonging to the entities of M3M group has been provisionally attached (it) being the proceeds of crime (PoC) flowing through a maze of companies to the M3M group,” it said.

In Gujarat, BJP drops nearly 50% of sitting MPs

In Gujarat, the BJP has dropped more than a dozen sitting MPs, including Ministers Darshna Jordosh and Mahendra Munjapara, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Two Cabinet Ministers, Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala, whose Rajya Sabha terms end in April, find a place on the candidate list instead .The ruling party has fielded Mr. Mandaviya from the Porbandar seat in the place of Ramesh Dhaduk and Mr. Rupala from Rajkot in the place of Mohan Kundariya. With Mr. Mandaviya hailing from Bhavnagar and Mr. Rupala from Amteli, both candidates were considered outsiders.

Home-cooked food, bed: facilities CM Kejriwal is allowed in ED lock-up

Inside the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) lock-up, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is currently lodged after being arrested in an excise policy-linked money laundering charge, an accused gets access to basic facilities like bed and bottled drinking water. It is learnt that the toilet and bathroom are located a little away from the lock-up, which is guarded round the clock by security personnel. The premises are also monitored through closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs).

Supreme Court raises concern over the rich gagging media

The Supreme Court has highlighted the problem of the affluent getting pre-trial injunctions from courts against the media and civil society, gagging free speech and the public’s right to information about important affairs .A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said such ex-parte interim injunctions granted by courts rather mechanically spell a death sentence to journalistic stories even before the allegations against them are proven right, if ever.

FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Afghanistan shocks India in Sunil Chhetri’s 150th international match

Lower-ranked Afghanistan shocked India 2-1 as the home team suffered one of its most embarrassing defeats in recent years despite talisman Sunil Chhetri’s 94th international goal in his 150th match, in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Guwahati on March 26. In his landmark game, Chhetri did what was expected of him and found the back of the net from the spot in the 37th minute after Haroon Amiri handled the ball inside the box in India’s home leg match in the second round of the joint qualifiers for the World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup.