India, US sign MoU to co-operate on workers' rights

India and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate on future labor and employment issues.

Signed by the US Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, and India's Union Labor Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, the MoU establishes a framework for conducting dialogue and cooperative activities between the US and India on labor and employment issues.

"Our governments share a firm commitment to workers and their rights. Today marks the launch of a new program to share valuable information that will ensure that workers' rights are respected," Solis said in her remarks on the occasion.

The memorandum will enable the Labor Department, as well as other US officials and experts, to begin dialogue on matters of mutual interest, including skills development, youth employment, mine safety and health, and occupation safety and health issues, with their counterparts in India.
Kharge said the road map laid down in the MoU will facilitate very close cooperation and interaction between the two countries and bring about improvements in the life of workers and their working conditions.

India looks forward for a possible tie-up for training and information exchange in areas of underground and open cast mining, disaster control & emergency management, statistical analysis and development of data bank, he said.

Kharge said India looks forward to work together with the US for furthering its knowledge in the area of occupational diseases, toxicology and occupational medicine.

Collaboration with the US will enrich India in areas of raining Delivery methods, certification, preparation of instructional material, curriculum development, Kharge said.

He stressed on the need for cooperation and collaboration in mutual recognition of qualifications, Vocational Guidance to the unemployed youth and rehabilitation of differently-abled persons.
The Union Minister termed it as a milestone and testimony to increasing cooperation between India and US in various strategic areas.

This will help in further developing an appropriate employment strategy for inclusive growth in India and strong bonds between the people of our two great nations, Kharge said.