On Wednesday in Guwahati, the Employment Working Group (EWG), which is led by India and under the G20 chair, wrapped up its second meeting with agreement on the critical themes of “Global Skill Gaps, Gig and Platform Economy, Social Protection and Sustainable Financing of Social Security.” More than 74 participants from more than 19 G20 member nations, seven guest countries, and five international organisations attended the summit. These institutions included the World Bank (WB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB)., the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Assam state government organised Jan Bhagidari events including bike rallies, cleanliness campaigns, simulated G20 summits in schools, tree plantings, seminars, and lectures to incorporate participants from all walks of life, including students, youth, women, the private sector, academics, and civil society.

Labour and Employment Secretary and EWG Chair Arti Ahuja guided the negotiations during the G20 summit to ensure agreement on the essential components of the EWG Ministerial Declaration and Outcome Paper works. And, Rameshwar Teli, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, gave the opening address to the three-day conference. He was followed by Chandra Mohan Patowary, Minister of Environment & Forest, Act East Policy Affairs, and Welfare of Minorities, of the Assam Government.

Several working groups with the EWG’s shared priority areas held workshops on sharing their knowledge on the first day of the conference. The G20 Entrepreneurship Research Centre, the L20 and B20 Chairs, the Sustainable Finance Working Group, the Digital Economy Working Group, and the Education Working Group all presented presentations. On the second day, member nations discussed the conclusions about the main EWG priority areas by including all points of view and further distilling them in order to create the declaration and result paper, along with helpful remarks. The debate of the Draft Ministerial Communique for the final text took place on the third day. The Draft Outcome Paper on “Gig and Platform Economy and Social Protection,” in addition to the Draft Ministerial Statement, was discussed. All G20 members participated in detailed discussions and consideration of comments and proposals.