A delegation from Japan recently visited India to observe the impact of its partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in tackling child labour, promoting formalization, and advancing gender equality. The four-day visit, held from 10 to 13 March 2026, brought together Japanese officials, Indian government representatives, private sector actors, and trade unions. The delegation was led by senior officials from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, reflecting Japan’s continued support for labour rights and inclusive development in India.
Following the visit, Japanese officials expressed appreciation for the efforts of project staff and highlighted the importance of cooperation among local governments and stakeholders in ensuring successful outcomes. They also noted that the initiatives have increased the visibility of Japan’s contributions through practical, community-level impact and partnerships on the ground.
The visit focused on two Japan-funded ILO initiatives: the Regional Child Labour Project for South Asia and the Promoting Rights and Social Inclusion through Organization and Formalization Phase 2 project in India. Through these programmes, the delegation visited mica supply chain workers in Ranchi and Koderma in Jharkhand, as well as a women-led care cooperative in Patna, Bihar, to better understand how the projects are improving working conditions and livelihoods.
In Koderma, India’s largest mica-producing district, the delegation met home-based workers, most of whom are women involved in cleaning and processing raw mica. Support provided through the ILO-backed Workers’ Information Support Center is helping these workers access social protection schemes, resolve workplace grievances, and strengthen their collective voice through trade union membership. These interventions are aimed at improving labour rights and reducing vulnerabilities in the informal supply chain.
To address child labour in mica-producing communities, the Regional Child Labour Project has partnered with civil society organizations to establish children’s clubs that promote child rights, education, and awareness about the dangers of child labour. Since 2024, children engaged in child labour have been rehabilitated and supported to return to school, demonstrating the project’s role in both prevention and reintegration.
In Patna, the delegation also met former domestic workers who, after receiving training through the ILO-supported formalization project in collaboration with the Indian National Trade Union Congress, started a women-run tiffin and home-cooked meal service. This enterprise is now moving toward becoming part of Bihar’s first state-level women’s cooperative, highlighting how skills training, collective organization, and access to opportunities can support women’s economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
Officials from Bihar emphasized that collaboration with the ILO has strengthened the state’s efforts to improve recognition, fair pay, and protection for unorganized workers. Partnerships with workers’ and employers’ organizations have improved coordination and produced tangible progress in advancing decent work and formalization, particularly among vulnerable groups in the informal economy.
The ILO also noted that the visit demonstrated strong cooperation between the organization, the government, and social partners at national, state, and local levels in India. The initiatives show how providing women with better skills, social protection, access to finance, and collective support can place them at the centre of creating stronger livelihoods and more resilient communities.
Overall, the two Japan-funded projects are addressing key labour challenges in India through targeted interventions. The child labour project focuses on preventing and eliminating child labour in critical mineral supply chains in India and Nepal by strengthening law enforcement and raising public awareness. Meanwhile, the formalization project supports women’s economic participation through cooperative models, improved occupational safety, grievance mechanisms, and policy reforms. In Bihar, it has already contributed to notable outcomes, including a 16.4 percent increase in minimum wages for domestic workers and the creation of a state helpline for unorganized workers.
