International labour standards in South Asia

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India has ratified 45 Conventions and one Protocol, of which 42 are in force. The ratified Conventions include four fundamental Conventions, three governance Conventions and 38 technical Conventions. International labour standards in India play an important role in creating a productive and equitable labour market and shaping national policy and development initiatives. The inherent principles of ILO Conventions are increasingly reflected in policies and regulations, and a number of national mechanisms are in place to support the implementation and ratification of Conventions, including a tripartite Committee on Conventions.
Critical challenges to the application of ILS stem from the informal nature of the Indian labour market. These include the need to strengthen labour law enforcement, payment of minimum wages, increasing use of casual or contract labour, poor working conditions, and low social security coverage.
The main focus of ILO’s work in India is on technical support related to the ratification of Conventions - especially the four unratified fundamental Conventions (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) and promotion and application of the principles underlying the ratified Conventions.