Context:

Recently, International Labour Organization (ILO) released "The State of Social Justice: A Work in Progress " report ahead of the Second World Summit for Social Development marking 30 years since the 1995 Copenhagen Summit.

Key findings of the report:

• • Poverty Reduction: Extreme poverty has decreased from 39% in 1995 to 10% in 2025.
  • Child Labour: The incidence of child labour among children aged 5–14 years has fallen from 250 million in 1995 to 106 million in 2025.
  • Working Poverty: The percentage of workers living in poverty has declined from 28% in 2000 to 7% in 2025.
  • Social Protection: Over 50% of the global population is now covered by some form of social protection.

Persistent Inequalities:

Despite these advancements, significant disparities remain:

• • Wealth Distribution: The top 1% of the global population controls 20% of global income and 38% of global wealth.
  • Gender Wage Gap: Women earn, on average, 78% of what men earn; at the current pace, it will take 50–100 years to close this gap.
  • Inequality by Birth: 55% of income inequality is determined by the country of birth, indicating a global location bias.

Emerging Global Challenges:

·        The world is undergoing rapid environmental, digital, and demographic transformations that are reshaping labour markets.

·        Climate policies and environmental transitions threaten workers in carbon-intensive sectors, especially without adequate just transition plans.

·        Meanwhile, digital divides risk increasing inequalities in access to technology and decent jobs.

·        Demographic changes, including ageing populations and youth surges in certain regions, further strain social protection systems and labour markets.

India’s Progress and Challenges:

India has made notable strides in several areas:

• • Poverty Reduction: Multidimensional poverty in India has decreased from 29% in 2013–14 to 11% in 2022–23.
  • Education: The secondary school completion rate reached 79% in 2024, with female literacy at 77%.

However, challenges persist in India:

• • Gender Inequality: The gender wage gap remains significant, and gender-based violence continues to be a concern.
  • Caste-Based Discrimination: Disparities in access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities persist among different caste groups.
  • Digital Divide: Access to digital technologies is uneven, with disadvantaged groups facing barriers to digital inclusion.

Recommendations:

The ILO calls for a renewed and decisive commitment to social justice. It urges inclusive policymaking that integrates social justice across finance, industry, climate, and health sectors.

·        Strengthening social contracts, investing in skills training, fair wage-setting, and robust social protection are critical.

·        Global cooperation is essential to manage transnational challenges and ensure that economic gains are distributed equitably, thereby fostering resilient and inclusive societies.

Conclusion:

The State of Social Justice 2025 underscores the importance of integrating social justice into policymaking to ensure equitable and inclusive development. While global progress is evident, the report calls for sustained efforts to address systemic inequalities and promote social justice for all.