Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 03 OCT 2025 – In a series of high-level bilateral engagements on the sidelines of the World Social Security Summit (WSSF), Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has positioned India as a leading voice in shaping the future of global labour mobility, social protection, and the rights of platform workers.
The Minister’s visit, which also includes receiving the prestigious ISSA Award 2025 for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Social Security’ on behalf of the Government of India, underscored a strategic push to strengthen international cooperation on workers’ welfare.
Forging a Digital-First Alliance with ISSA
In a meeting with Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohammed Azman, President of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and CEO of Malaysia’s PERKESO, Dr. Mandaviya welcomed India’s enhanced representation within the global body. The discussions centred on mutual recognition of skills and safe labour mobility.
Minister Mandaviya detailed India’s groundbreaking digital public infrastructure, specifically highlighting the e-Shram portal for unorganized workers and the National Career Service (NCS) platform as transformative tools for social protection delivery. The ISSA President commended India for achieving one of the world’s most rapid expansions of social security coverage, attributing it to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Revitalizing Century-Old Ties with Uganda
The meeting with H.E. Betty Amongi Ongom, Uganda’s Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, built upon historical ties and recent diplomatic revitalization. Both leaders identified significant potential for collaboration in Public Works, Agriculture, and Traditional Medicine.
A key outcome was Uganda’s keen interest in adopting India’s digital platforms for labour and employment. India expressed its willingness to support Uganda in developing similar digital infrastructure to effectively match talent with economic opportunities, signaling a partnership based on capacity-building and knowledge transfer.
Deepening the Strategic Partnership with Malaysia
Discussions with H.E. Steven Sim Chee Keong, Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources, reinforced the robust India-Malaysia Enhanced Strategic Partnership. Minister Mandaviya reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Malaysia’s labour market needs with its highly skilled professional workforce.
The ministers progressed on the proposed Memorandum of Collaboration between the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and PERKESO, a move set to deepen social security coordination between the two nations.
A Global South Agenda for Platform Workers
In a significant policy statement, Dr. Mandaviya asserted that the Global South must take the lead in framing model definitions for gig and platform workers for the international community. This call for a leadership role in setting global labour standards was met with a formal invitation from Malaysia for the Minister to attend its planned summit on platform workers in 2026.
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This series of meetings marks a clear and proactive effort by India to not only export its successful digital governance models but also to steer the global conversation on protecting the workforce of the future.