In Kuala Lumpur, India’s Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, wrapped up key bilateral talks with leaders from the International Social Security Association (ISSA), Malaysia, and Uganda. These meetings happened on the sidelines of the World Social Security Summit on Friday, October 3.
Dr. Mandaviya focused on boosting mutual recognition of skills, ensuring safe labour mobility, and deepening social protection ties. He’s in Malaysia to pick up the ISSA Award 2025 for “Outstanding Achievement in Social Security” on behalf of the Indian government—a big nod to India’s rapid push in this area.
First up, he chatted with ISSA President Professor Mohammed Azman, who also leads Malaysia’s social security body, PERKESO. Dr. Mandaviya thanked ISSA for spotlighting India’s social security wins and celebrated India’s stronger voice and voting power in the group. He spotlighted India’s tech-savvy approach, like the e-Shram portal for unorganized workers and the National Career Service (NCS) platform that connects job seekers with opportunities.
Professor Azman praised India’s quick rollout of social protection under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a standout global success.
Next, Dr. Mandaviya met Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi Ongom. They highlighted the deep, century-old bonds between India and Uganda, including the recent revival of their Joint Trade Cooperation Session in New Delhi after a 23-year gap.
The two sides eyed fresh collaborations in public works, agriculture, traditional medicine, and telemedicine to ramp up economic ties and skilled worker exchanges. Dr. Mandaviya shared how India has one of the world’s fastest expansions in social security coverage, powered by its digital public infrastructure. India offered help to Uganda in building similar digital tools to link talent with jobs.
Uganda jumped at the chance, showing strong interest in e-Shram and NCS and aiming to roll them out soon.
Dr. Mandaviya also linked up with Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim Chee Keong. He stressed India’s eagerness to fill Malaysia’s labor gaps with its pool of skilled professionals, thanks to the country’s young demographic edge.
Both ministers boosted the India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership, pointing to huge potential in IT, renewable energy, and infrastructure. India confirmed it’s ready to advance a proposed collaboration agreement between its Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and PERKESO, with talks already underway via the Ministry of External Affairs.
Dr. Mandaviya called on the Global South to lead the way in defining rules for gig and platform workers worldwide. Malaysia invited him to their upcoming summit on the topic in 2026.
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