India raises objections to the International Labor Organization's recent report stating that 83% of unemployed individuals in the country are youth. Get insights into the controversy surrounding unemployment statistics in India.
The Indian Government has raised objections to a recent ILO report on unemployment within the nation. India contends that the International Labour Organization failed to accurately represent the data in its preparation of the unemployment report, citing errors in its figures.
Two Meetings Conducted with ILO: The Government of India has held two meetings with officials from the International Labour Organization (ILO) to address concerns regarding a recent report. According to an ET report, Labor and Employment Secretary Sunita Dwar formally expressed the government's objection to the report. During these meetings, senior officials conveyed the government's dissatisfaction with the findings and expressed displeasure over the inaccuracies highlighted in the report.
This Assertion is Presented in the Report: The recent India Employment Report 2024, released by the International Labour Organization in collaboration with the Institute for Human Development, made a notable claim regarding youth unemployment in India. The report asserted that 83 percent of the unemployed workforce in the country comprises youth. However, the government disputes this claim, expressing disagreement with the report's findings.
Government Statistics on Unemployment: Government statistics reveal a decline in youth unemployment rates from 7 percent in 2019 to 5 percent in 2022 for individuals aged 15 to 29. Similarly, unemployment rates among adults aged 30 to 59 remained consistent at 1 percent from 2019 to 2022.
The Government Does Not Classify Them as Unemployed: The Ministry of Labour and Employment highlights that 35% of India's youth are students, while 22% are involved in household duties. The government argues that individuals in these categories cannot be classified as unemployed. Additionally, a significant portion of youth is engaged in part-time employment, further challenging the characterization of unemployment.
Issues Raised Regarding ILO Data: The government asserts that several crucial factors were overlooked in preparing the ILO report. Notably, data regarding international mobility, encompassing individuals working abroad and gig and platform workers engaged in formal employment for a portion of the year, were omitted from the report. According to the government, these omissions have resulted in significant errors in the ILO report's data presentation.
Summary and Conclusion: Government's Perspective on Unemployment Data