India assumes chairmanship of ILO governing body after 35 years
28 Oct 2020
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India has assumed the chairmanship of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) after a gap of 35 years, marking a new chapter in the 100 years of productive relationship between India and ILO.
Apurva Chandra, secretary (Labour and Employment) has been elected as the chairperson of the ILO governing body for the period October 2020 to June 2021. The chairperson of the governing body of ILO is a position of international repute.
The governing body (GB) is the apex executive body of the ILO, which decides policies, programmes, agenda, budget and elects the director-general. At present ILO has 187 members.
Apurva Chnadra will be presiding over the upcoming meeting of the governing body to be held in November 2020, at Geneva. He would have the opportunity to interact with senior officials and social partners of the member states. It will also provide a platform to appraise participants of the transformational initiatives taken by the Government of India in removing the rigidities of labour market besides making its intention clear about universalisation of social security to all workers whether in organised or unorganised sector.
Apurva Chandra belongs to the 1988 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Maharashtra Cadre. He has spent more than seven years in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas and has also worked for over four years between 2013 and 2017 as principal secretary (Industries) with the government of Maharashtra.
Apurva Chandra joined as Director General (Acquisition) in ministry of defence on 1 December 2017 with the mandate of strengthening the Indian armed forces by expediting the acquisition process. He chaired the committee to draft the new Defence Acquisition Procedure. The Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 has come into effect from 1 October 2020 on the day he joined the ministry of labour and employment as secretary.
