Half of world population covered by social protection for first time, says ILO
In a meeting in New Delhi with Mansukh Mandaviya, India's Minister of Labour and Employment, Houngbo said, "This welcome progress is dampened by the fact that 3.8 billion people worldwide are still entirely unprotected from life's challenges and the impacts of climate change.'
He noted India's progress in enhancing social protection coverage, noting, "The ILO's latest World Social Protection Report (WSPR) acknowledged the doubling of India's social protection coverage from 24.4 percent to 48.8 percent in 2024.'
Houngbo was in India for the Regional Dialogue on Social Justice, a UN platform for advancing social justice, decent work, and inclusive economic growth. India represents the Asia-Pacific region in the ILO's Coordinating Group of the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
Mandaviya underscored India's dedication to "quality employment, skills development, and social protection as pillars of social justice, aligning with the government's vision to make India a developed country by 2047, the centennial of its independence.'
India is a founding member of the ILO and has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.
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The National
34 minutes ago
- The National
Hamas agrees to Gaza ceasefire terms as mediators eye 'positive announcement'
Hamas has agreed to an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a 60-day Gaza truce and the initial release of 10 Israeli hostages, sources told The National on Monday. They said Hamas told Qatari and Egyptian mediators that it has dropped its condition for a written US guarantee that negotiations with Israel on a complete withdrawal from Gaza and a long-term ceasefire continue until an agreement is reached. Hamas also agreed to hand over the remains of 18 hostages who died while in captivity, the sources added. The group has agreed to lay down and store its weapons under international supervision. It has also agreed to the deployment of an Arab force in Gaza under UN supervision to maintain security in the enclave. The group's position comes after a senior regional official involved in the peace talks told The National on Monday that a 'positive announcement' regarding a Gaza ceasefire could come soon. 'There might be a positive announcement later, but we're still working on it,' the official said, though the details were not specified. He added that a visit by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman to Egypt was aimed at "pushing the talks forward". A Qatari statement said Sheikh Mohammed and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi discussed their countries' "mediation efforts to reach an agreement in Gaza to end the war and the suffering of the Palestinians and ensure the protection of civilians and the exchange of prisoners and hostages". It was not immediately clear whether Israel would agree to the proposal. It has been stated repeatedly in recent days that Hamas must surrender its arms and its leaders must leave Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said only that Hamas's willingness to talk showed it was under "immense pressure", as Israeli troops prepare to capture Gaza city in a new offensive. 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Middle East Eye
7 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
UN military force needed to halt Israel's assault on Gaza, tribunal says
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Arabian Post
7 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Global Climate Summit in Zambia Demands Increased Funding for Adaptation Efforts
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