International Labour Organization (ILO) – History

The ILO was established as an agency for the League of Nations following World War I.

It was established by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Its founders had made great strides in social thought and action before the establishment of the
organization itself.
It became the first specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) in the year 1946.
The ILO has played a significant role in promoting labour and human rights. It had held a significant
position during the Great Depression (1930s) for ensuring labour rights.
It played a key role in the decolonization process and in the victory over apartheid in South Africa.
The organization got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969, for its efforts to improve peace amongst the
classes, and for promoting justice and fair work for the workers.

International Labour Organization (ILO) Objective

The ILO is the only tripartite U.N. agency. The ILO is a meeting point for governments, workers
and employers of ILO’s member States to set labour standards, improve upon policies and create
programs that promote decent work for people.

The four strategic objectives at the heart of the Decent Work agenda are:
●​ To develop and effectuate standards, fundamental principles, and fundamental rights at work.
●​ To ensure that men and women have equal access to decent work while enhancing opportunities
for the same.
●​ To magnify the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for everyone.
●​ To strengthen Tripartism and social dialogue.

International Labour Organization (ILO) – Structure

The basis of the ILO is the tripartite principle. The ILO comprises the International Labour
Conference, the Governing Body, and the International Labour Office.

International Labour Conference:

The progressive policies of the ILO are set by the International Labour Conference.
The Conference is an annual event, which happens in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference brings
together all the representatives of the ILO.
ILC is the apex body of ILO which makes labour policies for international labour.
The ILC holds its sessions at a frequency not less
a. than once in a year
b. the delegates from three group's viz, the government, the employer's and the workers attend ILC
sessions in the ratio of 2:1:1 respectively
c. each representative has a vote d. the representatives from the government are mostly ministers,
diplomats and officials.
Function: It is a panel for the review of the important issues regarding labour.

Governing Body:
The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Organization.
The governing body meets in Geneva. It meets three times annually.
The Office is the secretariat of the Organization.
It is composed of 56 titular members, and 66 deputy members.

Functions:
Makes decisions regarding the agenda and the policies of the International Labour Conference.
It adopts the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference.
Election of the Director-General.

International Labour Office:

It is the permanent secretariat of the International Labour Organization.

Functions: It decides the activities for ILO and is supervised by the Governing Body and the
Director-General.
The ILO member States hold periodically regional meetings to discuss the relevant issues of the
concerned regions.
Each of the ILO’s 183 Member States has the right to send four delegates to the Conference: two
from government and one each representing workers and employers, each of whom may speak and
vote independently.T
To know more headquarters of the Important Organisations of the World, visit the linked article.

International Labour Organization (ILO) Functions

The ILO plays an important role in the formulation of policies which are focussed on solving labour
issues. The ILO also has other functions, such as:
It adopts international labour standards. They are adopted in the form of conventions. It also
controls the implementation of its conventions.
It aids the member states in resolving their social and labour problems.
It advocates and works for the protection of Human rights.
It is responsible for the research and publication of information regarding social and labour issues.
The ILO also assumes a supervisory role: it monitors the implementation of ILO conventions ratified
by member states.
The implementation is done through the Committee of Experts, the International Labour
Conference’s Tripartite Committee and the member-states.
The Trade Unions play a pivotal role in developing policies at the ILO, thus the Bureau for Workers’
Activities at the secretariat is dedicated to strengthening independent and democratic trade unions so
they can better defend workers’ rights and interests.

Member states are obligated to send reports on the development of the implementation of the
conventions they have approved.
Registration of complaints: The ILO registers complaints against entities that are violating
international rules.
The ILO, however, does not impose any sanctions on the governments.
Complaints can also be filed against member states for not complying with ILO conventions that
have been ratified.
International Labour Standards: The ILO is also responsible for setting International Labour
Standards. The international labour conventions which are set by the ILO are ratified by the member
states. These are mostly non-binding in nature.
But once a member state accepts conventions, it becomes legally binding. The conventions are often
used to bring national laws in alignment with international standards.
ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work: The formation of an ILO Global Commission on
the Future of Work marks the second stage in the ILO Future of Work Initiative.
The Commission outlines a vision for a human-centred agenda that is based on investing in people’s
capabilities, institutions of work and decent and sustainable work.
It also describes the challenges caused by new technology, climate change and demography and
appeals for a collective global response to the disturbances being caused in the world of work.
To know more about the World Confederation of Labour, visit the linked article

International Labour Organization – Mission

The ILO’s mission is to promote decent work for all workers. This is accomplished by promoting
social dialogue, protection, and employment generation.

The ILO provides technical support along with the support of development partners to multiple
countries in order to achieve this mission.
International Labour Organization – Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

The Declaration was adopted in 1998, and it mandates the member states to promote the eight
fundamental principles and rights. The Fundamental Principles and Rights are categorized into four
classes. They are:

Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining (Conventions 87 and 98)
Elimination of forced or compulsory labour (Conventions No. 29 and No. 105)
Abolition of child labour (Conventions No. 138 and No. 182)
Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation (Conventions No. 100 and
No. 111).
As part of the Follow-up to the Declaration, the ILO Director-General also submits a Global Report
on one of the four categories of fundamental principles and rights at work to the tripartite
International Labour Conference.
International Labour Organization – Core Conventions

The eight fundamental conventions form an indispensable part of the United Nations Human Rights
Framework, and their sanction is an important sign of member States’ commitment to human rights.
Overall, 135 member States have ratified all eight fundamental conventions.

The eight-core conventions of the ILO are:

Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No.105)
Equal Remuneration Convention (No.100)
Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No.111)
Minimum Age Convention (No.138)
Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182)
Freedom of Association and Protection of Right to Organised Convention (No.87)
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No.98)
The conventions are highly relevant due to the economic challenges faced by workers all around the
world.
Learn more about the Child Labour Amendment Act and Rules, by clicking on the linked article.

International Labour Organization and India

India is a founding member of the ILO. It became a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body
in 1922. The first ILO Office in India was inaugurated in 1928.

India has ratified six fundamental conventions.

India has not ratified Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention,
1948 (No. 87) and Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).
As the two conventions involve the granting of certain rights that are prohibited under the statutory
rules for government employees.

International Labour Standards (ILS) are a set of legal frameworks, conventions,

and recommendations created by the International Labour Organization (ILO)
to ensure fair treatment, safety, and rights for workers worldwide. Established in
1919, the ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with 187
member states.

Purpose of International Labour Standards

1.​ Promote and protect workers' fundamental rights.

2.​ Ensure safe and healthy working conditions.
3.​ Reduce inequalities in the workplace.
4.​ Encourage social dialogue between workers, employers, and governments.
5.​ Address issues caused by globalization, such as exploitation and unfair
competition.

Core Labour Standards

The ILO has identified eight fundamental conventions, often referred to as Core
Labour Standards, which are binding on all member states. These include:

1.​ Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

○​ Workers have the right to form unions and negotiate with employers.
2.​ Elimination of Forced Labour
○​ Workers should not be forced to work under threat or against their
will.
3.​ Abolition of Child Labour
○​ Prevents children from working in conditions that harm their health or
education.
4.​ Elimination of Discrimination
○​ Promotes equal treatment, regardless of gender, race, religion, or
social background.

Key Features of International Labour Standards

1.​ Conventions and Recommendations

○​ Conventions: Legally binding agreements ratified by countries.
 ○​ Recommendations: Non-binding guidelines to improve working
conditions.
2.​ Types of Standards
○​ Minimum Wage: Ensures workers earn fair wages.
○​ Working Hours: Limits excessive working hours, ensuring rest
periods.
○​ Occupational Safety and Health: Protects workers from workplace
hazards.
○​ Social Security: Ensures workers have access to benefits like
healthcare, pensions, and unemployment insurance.
3.​ Decent Work Agenda​
The ILO promotes "Decent Work" through four key pillars:
○​ Job Creation
○​ Rights at Work
○​ Social Protection
○​ Social Dialogue

Importance of International Labour Standards

●​ Protects Human Rights: Ensures dignity and safety for all workers.
●​ Improves Economic Stability: Helps create a fair and productive global
economy.
●​ Prevents Exploitation: Protects vulnerable groups, such as women and
children.
●​ Promotes Equality: Encourages inclusion and fairness in workplaces.
●​ Supports Global Trade: Encourages ethical business practices.

Challenges in Implementing ILS

1.​ Non-Compliance: Some countries or industries fail to enforce standards.

2.​ Informal Economy: Many workers are in unregulated jobs without
protections.
3.​ Global Competition: Pressure to reduce costs may lead to exploitation.
 4.​ Weak Enforcement: Lack of effective monitoring and legal systems.

Social Security :

According to Sir William Beveridge:-

“The security of income to take the place of earnings when they are interrupted by
unemployment sickness accident to provide for retirement through are to provide against loss of
support by the death of another person and to meet exceptional expenditure those connected with
birth, death and marriage. Primarily social security means income should be associated with
treatment design to bring the interruption of earnings to a end as soon as possible

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines Social Security as "the security that
society furnishes through appropriate organization against certain risks to which its
members are perennially exposed. These risks are essentially contingencies against which
an individual of small means cannot effectively provide by his own ability or foresight alone
or even in private combination with his fellows.The security of the income to take place of
earnings when they are interrupted by unemployment sickness accidents to provide for
retirement through are to provide against loss of support by the death of another person and to
meet exceptional expenditure those connected to birth death marriage.

Social Security is Dynamic.

Primarily SS mean income should be associated with treatment design to bring the interruption
of earning to as end soon as possible.

According to ILO, The security of Society furnishes appropriate organisation against risk to
which it members are exposed. These risk are essentially contingencies against which the
individual of small means cannot effectively provide by his own ability or foresight alone or
even in private combination with fellows

1. Social Assistance:
Social assistance refers to the assistance rendered by the Government to the needy persons
without asking them to make contributions to be entitled to get such assistance. In other words,
social assistance includes those benefits which are provided by the Government without any
contribution from workers and employers. Workmen’s compensation, maternity benefits, old age
pensions, etc. are examples of social assistance.

2. Social Insurance:

Social insurance refers to a scheme of maintaining funds from the contributions made by the
employees and employer, with or without a subsidy from the Government. In other words, social
insurance can be defined as a device to provide benefits as of right for persons of small earnings;
in amounts which combine the contributive efforts of the insured with subsidies from the
employer and the Government Examples of social insurance are provident fund and group
insurance.

SI - NO mean test.

LL = is used to cover all the laws which have been enacted to deal with employment and
non-employment, wages, working conditions, industrial relation, social security and welfare of
persons employed in industries.
It refers to all laws of the govt to provide social and economic security to the workers.

LL is body of law, administrative ruling, precedents which address the relationship b/w and amg
employers, employees and labour orgs, often dealing with the issues of public law.
LL refers to law regulating labour in India.

Objective of Labour Law:

Primary Objective
1.​ To safeguard workers against exploitation
2.​ Maintain good relation b/w employee and employers
3.​ To provide and improve the welfare, amenities of workers
4.​ To settle Industrial Disputes
5.​ To Protect the workers from profit Seeking exploiters.
Secondary Objective
1.​ Preserve peace and harmony in Industry
 2.​ By labour Participation in management.
3.​ To boost individual, social and national economy.
4.​ To protect the interest of women and children working in the factories.

UNIT III
The subject of social policy
Social policy is referred to as “social policy” in Continental Europe, but it is referred
to as “social welfare policy” in the North American literature. Some authors argue that
these two concepts have the same meaning but some others argue that social policy is
a frame concept which encompasses various policies, including social welfare policy.

Differences regarding the definition of social policy also arise from periodic
conditions. To Wagner, social policy means the measurements taken by state to protect
workers, while to Kessler, it means the movements and struggles of social class and
state’s attitude against this struggle. To Lauber, social policy is a set of measurements
taken at national level in order to change and regulate the financial and cultural life
conditions in a definite period of time. Albrech defines social policy as all measures
and institutions that are taken to protect the part of society which is in need of
economic protection and to ensure social security and peace. Marshall defines social
policy as a set of policies developed by state to ensure welfare in order that it obtains
service and income. Hagenbuch asserts that social policy is an effort to make sure that
individuals have minimum standards and opportunities.
In narrow sense, social policy is an attitude to address the disputes, imbalances, and
conflict of interests between employers and employees and to ensure harmony
between classes in capitalist systems. In narrow sense, the aim of social policies is to
find solutions for the problems emerging in industrials societies. From this
perspective, it serves ensuring the social justice for ending the social inequalities that
have been caused by the industrial revolution in social policy. In narrow sense, it
represents the policies for making a balance between labor and capital because it
encompasses only problems of worker and labor classes. These policies also include
the provision of social justice.
In narrow sense, political policy approaches the working life as the basic element that
can explain the society. In this context, it also deals with issues such as wages,
working conditions, trade unionism, and collective bargaining.
In a broad sense, the concept of social policy means comprehensive practices which
address not only the problems and needs of working class but also those of the other
segments of society. With a definition from this perspective, it is possible to say social
policy discipline addresses the problems of urbanization, environment, health, and
education and those of all segments of society such as workers, the disabled, the
elders, children, and immigrants. In a board sense, social policy emerged together
with the concept of welfare state after World War II. Therefore, social policy includes
health services, social security, city, environment, and struggling against
unemployment and poverty that affect social welfare. In a broad sense, the final target
of all these practices is to ensure social peace, social justice, and equality between
different groups.
Social policy is determined on the basis of redistribution. The regulatory and
distributive view of policies serves to ensure that everyone living in society has social
freedoms and equal opportunities. Ensuring the welfare of each individual is the main
objective of the state and other organizations that are social policy practitioners.
The members of society have such needs as education, social security, health services,
and housing. Social policy aims to ensure the welfare of individuals through
legislative regulations. Because social policy is affected by social developments, it
changes based on the needs of individuals. State makes new regulations based on
needs. It is possible to make separate regulations for those who are in need of
protection from social policy perspective for children and youth, for the disabled, for
families with low income, and for the elders.
The factors which affect and determine social policy are not only the needs of society
and individuals but also are ideological movements, crime rates, unemployment,
media, politics, industrial groups, and violence, such economic factors as debit and
recession and the nature of welfare state (social democratic, liberal, etc.)
Social policy can be defined as an area consisting of decisions taken with the
participation of many individuals and parties, which is put in force after the state
determines its basis. There is a mutual interaction between social policy and economic
policies. Thus, the development of a country is not possible only through economic
growth but also by achieving a fair and balanced growth to solve social problems.
From this perspective, the problems in economy and those in social policy need to be
handled together.
2.1 Principles and concepts of social policy
To achieve its goals, social policy needs to have some principles regarding the policies
it will determine.
The social policy, which is put in force by the state and other institutions, affects the
welfare of society directly. A state’s regulations regarding welfare need to be
determined by analyzing its social policies. The subjects and basic principles related
with social policies are social needs and social problems, equal rights and social
justice, efficiency, equity and choice, altruism, reciprocity and obligation, and
division, difference, and exclusion.
Welfare state should provide some rights to the people. These are elaborated below.
●​ Equality: Achieving equality underlies social policies. Resources need to be
distributed fairly in order to achieve equality. Equality has different types:
equal outcome, equal opportunity, or equal treatment.
●​ Equal opportunity: It means that equal groups should be treated equally.
Equal opportunity needs to be given to people regardless of their sex or group.
Moreover, all people must have the same opportunities in educational system or
in the labor market.
●​ Need: Basic needs are food, caring, and housing. Needs are not limited, and it
is not certain which needs should be covered by states.
●​ Freedom and rights: There are different types of rights. Civil rights mean the
absence of arbitrary arrest and detention but having freedom to discuss any
opinion. Social rights mean social welfare and social security, right to
education. Political rights include voting and joining political parties and
freedom to explain opinion in a democratic way.
All of these rights are provided by welfare state. The individuals who live in society
are bound to state through the bond of citizenship. He/she has the right to request the
state to which he/she is a citizen to make policies which pave the way to provide
him/her the rights he/she has. From this perspective, the citizenship concept plays an
important role in determining the state’s obligations and rights of individuals as a part
of social policies.
The main goal of social policies is to ensure that everyone in society lives in harmony,
afar from conflicts. Thus, the target is to ensure social justice, social development,
social balance, social integration, and social peace.
●​ Thanks to social justice, everyone in society will have equal rights in the face
of equal risks. In this way, the inequalities and differences caused by the
economic chances are eliminated. All the policies that ensure that everyone has
fair opportunities with regard to income, taxes, wages, education, and social
security contribute to the development of social justice.
●​ Ensuring the social balance is possible if everyone in society lives in harmony
and balance. Therefore, social differences need to be reduced. Especially the
differences and inequalities, with regard to opportunities, of the individuals
living in different regions cause this balance and harmony to deteriorate. It is
one of the main objectives of social policy practitioners to eliminate the
differences regarding the development level and to ensure that everyone
benefits from the same social services.
●​ Social peace is ensured through policies aimed at eliminating the factors that
lead to the deterioration of the balance within the social structure. Especially in
the capitalist system, the social differences created by the free market can
hinder solidarity throughout the society. For the creation of a society dominated
by harmony and reconciliation, policies should be implemented in order to
eliminate the negative effects on the psychology of society.
●​ Social integration refers to the minimization of political and economic factors
that negatively affect unity and solidarity in society. Education, culture, and
moral values are issues that affect social resolution in this sense.
 ●​ Achieving the goal of social democracy, it is possible to protect the
fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals in democratic order with the
legal order in the framework of democratic freedoms. The goal of democracy
must be achieved in order to protect the individuals’ rights to work and
participate.

Social Planning
Introduction

Social planning is a process of assessing and addressing social needs and issues through the
development of policies and programs. It involves the collaboration of individuals, organizations,
and government entities to identify, analyze, and respond to social challenges facing a
community. The goal of social planning is to improve the well-being and quality of life of
individuals and society as a whole. Social planning has a long history, dating back to the late
19th century when social reform movements emerged to address social inequality and poverty.
Today, social planning is an important tool for creating more just and equitable societies. It
involves a set of principles, steps, and tools that guide the planning process and help to ensure
that policies and programs are effective, efficient, and sustainable. In this post, we will explore
the concept of social planning in detail, including its principles, steps, tools, challenges, and
future implications.

Principles of Social Planning

The principles of social planning are like a set of guidelines that help people create policies and
programs to make their communities better. These guidelines make sure that everyone is treated
fairly, and that people who might be left out of the decision-making process are heard.
The first principle is about fairness. We want to make sure that everyone in the community
benefits from the policies and programs, especially those who might not have as much power or
resources. We want to create a community that is fair and just.

The second principle is about involving people in the community. We want to make sure that
everyone who is affected by the social issue is involved in the planning process. This way,
people who might have valuable insights or ideas can contribute to finding a solution.

The third principle is about thinking about the future. We want to create policies and programs
that are sustainable, meaning they won't cause problems for future generations. We need to think
about how our decisions
today might affect people in the future.

The fourth principle is about working together. We need to collaborate with different people and
organizations in the community to create effective solutions. By working together, we can make
sure that everyone's voices are heard and that we are using all the resources available to us.

By following these principles, we can create policies and programs that are fair, inclusive,
sustainable, and effective. These guidelines help us to create a better community for everyone.

Steps in Social Planning

The process of social planning involves several steps that guide the development and
implementation of policies and programs to address social issues. Here are some of the key steps
in social planning:
1.​ Find the problem: The first step is to figure out what the problem is. This means talking
to people in the community, doing research, and looking at data to understand what the
issue is and how it affects people.
2.​ Set goals: Once we know what the problem is, we need to set clear goals and objectives
for what we want to achieve. This helps us stay focused and measure our progress.
3.​ Check resources and obstacles: Next, we need to look at what resources we have and
what obstacles we might face. This could include things like funding, staff, and
regulations that could affect our ability to implement our plan.
4.​ Come up with ideas: We need to brainstorm different ideas for how to address the
problem. This means considering different approaches and interventions that could be
effective, and evaluating them based on how practical, feasible, and sustainable they are.
 5.​ Put the plan into action: Once we have a plan, we need to put it into action. This means
implementing the strategies we've developed and monitoring our progress to see if we're
achieving our goals.
6.​ Evaluate and improve: Finally, we need to evaluate how well our plan is working and
make adjustments as needed. This means looking at data, getting feedback from the
community, and making changes to improve the plan and achieve better outcomes.

By following these steps, we can create policies and programs that are based on evidence,
responsive to the needs of the community, and have a positive impact on people's lives

Tools and Techniques in Social Planning

Social planning is all about using different tools and techniques to develop policies and programs
that help solve social problems. Here are some of the key tools and techniques that social
planners use:
1.​ Needs Assessment: To figure out what people in a community need, social planners often
gather data and talk to people to identify what's not being met.
2.​ Stakeholder Engagement: When making plans, it's important to talk to people who are
affected by social issues. This helps planners understand what people need and how
policies might impact them.
3.​ SWOT Analysis: A SWOT analysis is a way to look at the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats of a plan. This helps planners to develop strategies that make
the most of their strengths and opportunities while addressing their weaknesses and
threats.
4.​ Cost-Benefit Analysis: A cost-benefit analysis helps planners to understand the costs and
benefits of a proposed policy or program. This helps them make decisions about where to
allocate resources.
5.​ Logic Model: A logic model is a way to map out the inputs, activities, outputs, and
outcomes of a program or intervention. This helps planners to understand what resources
they need and to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
6.​ Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring and evaluation is all about collecting data to see
if a program is working. This helps planners figure out what's working well and where
there's room for improvement.
By using these tools and techniques, social planners can create policies and programs that are
based on evidence and respond to the needs of the community. This helps make sure that policies
have a positive impact on people's lives.

Approaches to Social Policy: Unified, Integrated, and Sectoral Approach

Social policy refers to the guidelines, principles, legislation, and activities that affect the
living conditions conducive to human welfare. It plays a critical role in addressing social
issues such as poverty, education, health care, and employment. The approaches to social
policy help in understanding how policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated.
Three key approaches are the Unified Approach, Integrated Approach, and Sectoral
Approach.

1. Unified Approach

The Unified Approach to social policy focuses on creating a single, cohesive framework
that addresses multiple social issues simultaneously. It aims to provide a comprehensive
solution by combining various policy areas under a common goal.

Key Features:

●​ Holistic perspective addressing social problems collectively.

●​ Emphasis on uniformity in policy implementation across sectors.
●​ Often used in welfare states where the government ensures basic needs for all
citizens.

Advantages:

●​ Reduces duplication of efforts and resources.

●​ Promotes equality and consistency in service delivery.
●​ Helps in addressing interconnected social issues (e.g., health and education).

Challenges:
 ●​ Can be rigid and less responsive to localized needs.
●​ Implementation may be complex due to broad coverage.

Example in India: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

(MGNREGA)

●​ What it does: Guarantees 100 days of wage employment in rural areas.

●​ How it uses the unified approach:
○​ Employment Generation: Provides jobs to rural workers.
○​ Poverty Reduction: Offers income to reduce rural poverty.
○​ Infrastructure Development: The work done (like building roads, ponds)
improves village infrastructure.
●​ This one scheme touches multiple areas like employment, poverty, and
infrastructure, making it a perfect example of a unified approach.

2. Integrated Approach

The Integrated Approach seeks to coordinate policies across various sectors and levels
of government to ensure that they work together effectively. Unlike the unified approach,
which focuses on uniformity, the integrated approach emphasizes coordination and
collaboration.

Key Features:

●​ Focus on interlinking different sectors like health, education, and employment.

●​ Encourages partnerships between public, private, and non-governmental
organizations.
●​ Flexible, allowing adaptation to specific regional or community needs.

Advantages:

●​ Enhances the efficiency of policy implementation.

●​ Promotes innovation by leveraging expertise from different sectors.
●​ Addresses complex social problems that span multiple areas.

Challenges:
 ●​ Requires strong leadership and coordination mechanisms.
●​ Risk of conflicting priorities among stakeholders.

Example in India: Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

●​ What it does: Provides food, preschool education, and healthcare to children under
6 years and their mothers.
●​ How it uses the integrated approach:
○​ Health: Regular health check-ups and immunization.
○​ Nutrition: Provides nutritious meals to combat malnutrition.
○​ Education: Offers early childhood education.
●​ The scheme brings health, nutrition, and education under one umbrella, ensuring a
child's overall development.

3. Sectoral Approach

The Sectoral Approach focuses on specific sectors (e.g., health, education, housing)
independently. Each sector has its own set of policies, goals, and implementation
strategies.

Key Features:

●​ Sector-specific policies tailored to unique challenges and needs.

●​ Clear accountability, as each sector is responsible for its own outcomes.
●​ Allows for specialization and depth in addressing sectoral issues.

Advantages:

●​ Enables detailed and focused attention on sector-specific problems.

●​ Easier to manage and implement at the sectoral level.
●​ Policies can be developed by experts within each sector.

Challenges:

●​ Risk of fragmentation, leading to inefficiencies.

●​ May overlook interconnections between sectors (e.g., how education impacts
health).
 ●​ Potential for policy overlap or gaps if coordination is lacking.

Example in India: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

●​ What it does: Aims to provide affordable housing to the urban and rural poor.
●​ How it uses the sectoral approach:
○​ Focuses only on the housing sector.
○​ Provides subsidies on home loans for weaker sections.
●​ While it deals specifically with housing, it indirectly supports employment (through
construction) and urban development but remains primarily a housing policy.

Comparative Overview:

Approac Scope Coordinatio Flexibili Focus Challenges

h n Level ty

Unified Broad, High Low Uniform Rigidity,

all-encompassi solutions complex
ng execution

Integrate Multi-sector, Very high High Collaboratio Requires

d interconnected n strong
coordination

Sectoral Specific to Low Medium Specialized Risk of

each sector issues fragmentation
The choice of approach depends on the social, political, and economic context of a
country or region.

●​ Unified Approach works well in welfare states with robust public institutions.
●​ Integrated Approach is ideal when addressing complex social issues requiring
cross-sector collaboration.
●​ Sectoral Approach is suitable for targeted interventions where sector-specific
expertise is critical.

Often, a combination of these approaches may be adopted to achieve the best outcomes in
social policy implementation.

Normative Concepts of Social Policy

Normative concepts in social policy refer to the fundamental values and principles that guide the
development of policies aimed at improving society. These concepts help in determining what is
fair, just, and necessary when designing welfare programs.

Below are the key normative concepts of social policy, explained with examples:

1. Needs and Choice

Definition:

​ •​ Needs refer to basic human necessities such as food, shelter, education, and
healthcare that are essential for survival and well-being.

​ •​ Choice represents the ability of individuals to make decisions about their own
welfare based on available resources and options.

Example:

A government providing free primary education ensures that every child’s need for education is
met. However, choice allows parents to decide whether to send their children to public or private
schools.
2. Rights and Obligations

Definition:

​ •​ Rights are legal or moral entitlements that individuals have in a society, such as
the right to healthcare, education, and social security.

​ •​ Obligations refer to the duties or responsibilities that individuals and governments

have to ensure that these rights are upheld.

Example:

In many countries, citizens have a right to free healthcare, but they also have the obligation to
pay taxes, which fund public health services.

3. Justice and Merit

Definition:

​ •​ Justice in social policy refers to fairness and equality in the distribution of

resources and opportunities.

​ •​ Merit means that rewards and benefits should be given based on individual effort,
talent, and achievements.

Example:

A government scholarship program may work in two ways:

​ •​ A justice-based approach ensures that disadvantaged students (e.g., those from

poor backgrounds) receive scholarships, promoting equal access to education.

​ •​ A merit-based approach rewards high-performing students, regardless of their

financial background.

A well-balanced policy often combines both justice and merit to ensure fairness.

4. Citizenship and Status

Definition:

​ •​ Citizenship refers to the legal and social recognition of individuals as members of

a state, granting them access to rights and services.
​ •​ Status refers to an individual’s position in society, which can influence their
access to certain benefits and opportunities.

Example:

In many countries, citizens have access to social security benefits, while immigrants on
temporary visas may not be eligible. This shows how citizenship and status affect social policies.

UNIT V
Objectives and Functions of the Ministry of Labour and Employment

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is a pivotal entity within the Government of India,
tasked with formulating and implementing policies related to labor welfare, industrial relations,
and employment services. Its primary aim is to promote harmonious labor-management relations,
ensure fair wages, and provide social security to the workforce. Below is an overview of the
Ministry’s objectives and functions:

Objectives of the Ministry

​ 1.​ Policy Formulation: Develop policies concerning labor matters, including

industrial relations, wage regulation, working conditions, and social security.

​ 2.​ Labor Welfare: Enhance the welfare of workers, focusing on women and child
labor, and implement social security measures.

​ 3.​ Employment Services: Oversee the development and administration of

employment services and the national training of craftsmen.

​ 4.​ Regulatory Oversight: Implement labor policies, with state governments handling
most responsibilities, except in sectors like railways, mines, oilfields, banking, insurance, major
ports, and central government undertakings, where the central government retains control.

Functions of the Ministry

​ 1.​ Industrial Relations:

​ •​ Promote harmonious relations between labor and management.

​ •​ Regulate wages and working conditions in sectors under central jurisdiction.

​ •​ Ensure the swift implementation of labor law awards, agreements, and codes of
discipline.

​ •​ Conduct evaluative studies on labor laws and industrial relations in public sector
undertakings.

​ 2.​ Regulation of Working Conditions:

​ •​ Oversee working conditions and safety in mines and factories.

​ 3.​ Wage Policy and Data Management:

​ •​ Prepare groundwork for formulating a national wage policy.

​ •​ Maintain data on wages, allowances, and related matters.

​ 4.​ Research and Statistics:

​ •​ Collect and publish statistics.

​ •​ Conduct inquiries, surveys, and research studies on various labor subjects.

​ 5.​ Employment Support for Marginalized Communities:

​ •​ Conduct programs to enhance employment potential for scheduled caste and

scheduled tribe candidates through Coaching-cum-Guidance Centers.

​ 6.​ Welfare Amenities:

​ •​ Provide amenities to workers in the mining and beedi manufacturing industries.

​ 7.​ Rehabilitation and Welfare:

​ •​ Assist in the rehabilitation of bonded labor.

​ •​ Provide welfare measures for certain sections of unorganized labor.

​ 8.​ Training and Education:

​ •​ Undertake training, education, research, and consultancy services in industrial

relations and general labor matters.

​ •​ Educate all sections of workers for their active participation in the nation’s social
and economic development.
​ 9.​ Social Security Monitoring:

​ •​ Monitor the operation of social security schemes like the Employees’ Provident
Fund Organization and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.

​ 10.​ Policy Framework and Implementation:

​ •​ Develop policy frameworks for the National Employment Service.

​ •​ Implement the National Vocational Training Program.

Organizational Structure

The Ministry achieves its objectives through various attached and subordinate offices, as well as
autonomous bodies, including:

​ 1.​ Directorate General of Employment and Training

​ 2.​ Organization of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central)

​ 3.​ Directorate General of Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes

​ 4.​ Directorate General of Mines Safety

​ 5.​ Labour Bureau

​ 6.​ Central Government Industrial Tribunals

​ 7.​ Offices of Labour Welfare Commissioners

​ 8.​ Employees’ Provident Fund Organization

​ 9.​ Employees’ State Insurance Corporation

​ 10.​ Central Board for Workers Education

​ 11.​ V.V. Giri National Labour Institute

​ 12.​ Board of Arbitration (JCM)

Key Programs and Schemes

The Ministry implements various programs and schemes to achieve its mandate, including:

​ 1.​ Research and Statistics:

​ •​ Compilation and maintenance of Consumer Price Index Numbers for different
categories of workers.

​ •​ Review of the implementation of various labor laws enacted for the protection and
welfare of the working class.

​ •​ Conducting surveys and studies on labor-related matters.