SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth | SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Institutions: Ministry of Labour & Employment
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a new framework of indicators and methods to assess effective governance in labour administration. These tools design measurable standards to evaluate how well labour institutions manage inspection, social dialogue, public employment services, enforcement, and overall governance. Developed with input from labour ministries across regions, the indicators aim to translate governance principles into actionable metrics rather than mere ideals. The framework includes three categories: (i) ministry-level governance, (ii) service-specific measures (e.g. inspection, social dialogue), and (iii) a composite governance index to summarise performance.
This new tool gives governments and labour ministries a clearer roadmap to diagnose and improve weaknesses in labour governance. Rather than abstract benchmarks, it offers evidence-based measures to compare internal performance over time and to spotlight which service areas (inspection, dialogue, enforcement) need strengthening. For countries seeking to modernise their labour institutions amid changing work landscapes (e.g. gig work, informal sector), such metrics can help align national systems with international labour norms and improve transparency, trust, and accountability.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders
How can India adapt ILOβs framework to its own institutional structure, so that the indicators are both locally valid and globally comparable and embed them into monitoring systems without overburdening officials?
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ILO: Indicators and Methods for Measuring Effective Governance in Labour Administration