7- Point Agenda For Employment Generation

Explore the 7-Point Agenda for Employment Generation, a strategic framework aimed at creating sustainable jobs, boosting skill development, fostering entrepreneurship, and driving economic growth.

Context: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has proposed a 7-point agenda to boost employment generation in the country.

Facts

India, with a median age of 29, is projected to add 133 million individuals to its working-age population by 2050.
According to the most recent Annual PLFS reports, the estimated unemployment rate (UR) for youth aged 15-29 years in the year 2023-24 stands at 10.2%.
In the agriculture sector, which employs approximately 45% of the labour force, there is a significant issue of disguised unemployment, as this sector contributes only 16% to the Gross Value Added (GVA).

Key Suggestions by CII

Integrated National Employment Policy: CII advocates for the formulation of a comprehensive Integrated National Employment Policy that consolidates various employment-generating schemes across different ministries and states.
- This approach aims to streamline efforts and maximize impact on job creation.
Data-Driven Employment Insights: The establishment of a Universal Labour Information Management System (ULIMS) is recommended to provide crucial insights into job availability, skill demand, and training programs.
- This data-driven approach would help align workforce skills with market needs.
Boosting Labour-Intensive Sectors: CII emphasizes the importance of focusing on labour-intensive sectors such as construction, textiles, and tourism.
- It suggests fostering national and international collaborations to enhance job creation in these industries.
Empowering Rural Youth: Recognizing the challenges faced by rural youth amid declining job opportunities and stagnant agriculture, CII proposes launching a rural internship program for college graduates.
- This initiative aims to strengthen government efforts in rural areas by engaging educated youth in local development projects.
Increasing Female Workforce Participation: To improve female participation in the workforce, CII recommends establishing CSR-funded creches in industrial clusters and formalizing the care economy.
- These initiatives, along with enhanced women’s safety laws and a supportive work culture, are expected to create a more inclusive job market for women.
Incentives for Hiring: CII calls for the replacement of Section 80JJAA of tax provisions to provide employers with enhanced deductions for hiring new employees.
- This change would incentivize businesses to expand their workforce.
Tapping Global Job Market: The establishment of an International Mobility Authority under the Ministry of External Affairs is suggested to facilitate overseas employment opportunities for Indian youth.
- The focus should be on leveraging international opportunities such as H1B visas in the US and collaborations like the CECP with Australia.