The External Affairs Minister is also expected to hold a few bilateral meetings on the margins of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will visit South Africa to participate in the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting from February 20-21, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday.
As per the Ministry of External Affairs, the EAM will visit Johannesburg at the invitation of South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
The EAM’s participation in the G20 meet will further strengthen India’s engagement with the G20 countries and bolster the voice of the Global South in this important forum, the MEA noted.
The External Affairs Minister is also expected to hold a few bilateral meetings on the margins of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Notably, South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2024, through to November 2025.
The G20 comprises 19 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, United Kingdom, and United States, in addition to two blocs; European Union and the African Union.
The G20 members include the world’s major economies, representing 85 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product, over 75 per cent of international trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
The G20 Presidency rotates annually among the members and is selected from a different regional grouping of countries. The 19 member countries are therefore divided into five groups comprising a maximum of four countries each.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier that he will not be attending the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, citing concerns over the country’s actions, including the expropriation of private property.
He also criticised South Africa’s use of the G20 platform to promote “solidarity, equality, and sustainability” to promote “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and climate change.”
Meanwhile, Sumita Dawra, Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, led the Indian delegation at the first G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting under the South African Presidency, held from February 18-21 at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, a statement by the Ministry of Labour and Employment said.
The delegation included Thelma John David, Consul General of India in Durban, South Africa, and Piyush Kumar Pathak, Deputy Director from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the statement said.
Discussions were held on two priority issues- inclusive growth and youth employment, social security and digitalisation for an inclusive future of work.
First G20 Employment Working Group meeting saw interventions from G20 member countries, emphasizing their respective policy approaches to employment, social security, and skills development. Invited member States including United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of the Netherlands and Kingdom of Norway also made interventions on priority areas. International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) also made a presentation on global employment trends and best practices in labour market reforms, as per the statement.
During the intervention, Secretary highlighted India’s major reforms aimed at job creation, labour market flexibility, and comprehensive social security. India, as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, continues to strengthen its economic landscape through strategic sectoral investments, including agriculture, MSMEs, manufacturing, medical education, and infrastructure development. The focus on global supply chains and export-driven employment was underscored, with initiatives to enhance warehousing and air cargo facilities.
The intervention also emphasized India’s positive employment trends, noting a decline in the unemployment rate from 6 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24, alongside a significant rise in the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) and Worker Population Ratio. Labour market modernization was highlighted, particularly the four Labour Codes and other reforms aimed at improving labour welfare, expanding social security–including for gig and platform workers–formalizing employment, and increasing female labour force participation, as per the statement.
India’s efforts in social security expansion were recognized, with coverage doubling from 24.4 per cent in 2021 to 48.8 per cent in 2024, as per the ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2024-26. With the ongoing work with ILO on including ‘in-kind’ benefits and those of the states, the potential coverage of the country will go up further.
Secretary emphasized the success of the e-Shram portal, which has registered over 300 million unorganized workers, and the modernization of ESIC and EPFO schemes. The Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme was also highlighted as a key initiative to promote formal sector employment, the statement said.
On gender inclusion, the tecretary reiterated India’s commitment to achieving 70 per cent female workforce participation by 2047, citing progressive policies such as extended maternity leave, creche facilities, and equal pay provisions. India’s increasing participation of women in high-growth sectors like IT, R&D, and engineering was noted as a critical driver of economic growth.
Youth empowerment through skill development was emphasized during India’s intervention with a key focus on employability of graduates which has risen in last decade from 34 per cent to 55 per cent. India’s global engagement in skills mapping with the ILO and OECD was underscored, along with bilateral agreements facilitating skilled labour mobility with major G20 countries.
Secretary reaffirmed India’s commitment to fostering economic inclusion and empowering its youth, recognizing them as key drivers of national and global growth. (ANI)
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