New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) The G20 Labour and Employment Ministers (LEMM) said on Saturday that they have approved a declaration that emphasises that creating formal jobs and promoting decent work are the most effective social tools for achieving a fairer and more equitable income distribution.

Led by Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, the Indian delegation along with Brazil and South Africa approved the ‘Labour and Employment Ministerial Declaration’ after a two-day meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Karandlaje informed that India has generated over 80 million employment opportunities from 2017-18 to 2021-22, averaging over 20 million jobs per year, while the youth unemployment rate has dropped from 17.8 per cent in 2017-18 to 10 per cent in 2022-23, with increased youth participation in the labour force.

She also said that India’s ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ initiative allows migrant workers to access entitled food grains nationwide.

In addition, the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme, covers over 550 million citizens, “demonstrating our dedication to health security”, she added.

The delegation of ministers made interventions on key focus areas — like creation of quality jobs and the promotion of decent work, to ensure social inclusion and eliminate poverty and hunger, gender equality, and the promotion of diversity in the world of work.

Karandlaje said India has made significant strides in promoting gender equality in the workplace through robust legislative measures.

The country has leveraged digital platforms through the ‘Digital India Mission’ to open up new avenues for entrepreneurship and employment.

Karandlaje met Gilbert Houngbo, Director General of International Labour Organization (ILO), on the sidelines of the meeting.

She also met Miyazaki Masahisa, Japanese State Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare. The two leaders discussed areas of mutual interest, including the need to further enhance the mobility of semi-skilled and skilled workers from India to Japan.

Karandlaje stressed the need for skilling and reskilling to ensure just and fair transition to greener alternatives, outlining India’s achievement in leveraging technology as a means of improving everyone’s quality of life.

–IANS

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Yangon, July 27 (IANS) Flooding has disrupted traffic on a major highway in southern Myanmar on Saturday, posing challenges for travellers, the state-run media said on Saturday.

The flooding was caused by heavy rains in Thaton and Belin townships of Mon state, Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) reported.

A road section of the Yangon-Mawlamyine highway in Thaton township has been submerged by about two feet of water since the early hours of Saturday due to continuous heavy rains, the report said, Xinhua news agency reported.

Another section of the same highway in Belin township was submerged on Friday with about two feet of water and up to four feet in some places. This was caused by the Belin River rising above its danger level, the report said.

Local authorities, traffic police, fire service personnel and rescuers participated in efforts to ensure the safety of travelers on the highway, the report said.

–IANS

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Gaza, July 27 (IANS) At least 30 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 others injured by Israeli bombing on a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, the Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday.

The hospital was located inside the Khadija School, and the Israeli army bombed the hospital with three missiles from fighter jets, the Hamas-run media office said, noting that Israeli attacks have put enormous pressure on medical teams and caused a shortage of health and medical supplies in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that based on precise intelligence, the Israeli Air Force struck “terrorists” operating in a Hamas command and control center inside the Khadija School compound in central Gaza.

“Hamas terrorists used the compound as a hiding place to direct and plan numerous attacks against IDF troops and the state of Israel,” the IDF said, noting that before the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians.

The IDF said in a separate statement on Saturday that IDF troops conducted targeted raids on “terror infrastructure sites” above and below the ground in Khan Younis, locating large amounts of weaponry, including shoulder-launched missiles, grenades, AK-47s, and additional military equipment.

–IANS

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Moscow, July 27 (IANS) Russia is concerned about a recently announced guideline between the United States and South Korea on joint nuclear planning, the media reported on Saturday, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“Another worrying aspect is that the United States has recently concluded an agreement with South Korea on joint nuclear planning,” Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported quoting Lavrov.

Russia has not yet received an explanation regarding the guideline, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lavrov added, “We have no doubt that it causes additional anxiety.”

US and South Korean leaders authorised the guideline on July 11, which “provides guidance to Alliance policy and military authorities in maintaining and strengthening a credible and effective nuclear deterrence policy and posture,” according to the White House.

–IANS

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Beijing, July 27 (IANS) Eight people were killed while five others were injured after a vehicle crashed into pedestrians in Changsha City, the capital of central China’s Hunan Province, in the wee hours of Saturday, the municipal public security bureau said.

The injured people have been sent to a nearby hospital for treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.

Among the wounded, two are in serious condition, while three have suffered minor injuries.

The suspect has been identified as Su, aged 55, who is being questioned by the police.

An investigation into the case is underway. Further details are awaited.

–IANS

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