The central government has acknowledged receiving repeated requests from central trade unions to convene the Indian Labour Conference (ILC), which has not been held for over a decade. The last session—the 46th ILC—was conducted in New Delhi on 20–21 July, 2015.
In response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha by MP Ritabrata Banerjee, minister of state for labour and employment, Shobha Karandlaje, stated that while several trade union bodies have demanded the revival of the ILC, the government has so far relied on holding tripartite consultations involving representatives from the government, employers, and workers to deliberate on key labour issues and policies.
However, the minister did not indicate any timeline for convening the next session of the Indian Labour Conference, which has traditionally served as the highest consultative forum on labour matters in the country.
The absence of the ILC for more than ten years has been a growing concern among trade unions, which see the conference as a critical platform for dialogue and policy formulation. Many worker organisations argue that in the current backdrop of sweeping labour reforms and the implementation of new labour codes, tripartite dialogue through a structured forum like the ILC is essential to address concerns and ensure inclusive policymaking.
With no official announcement on when the next conference will be held, trade unions are likely to continue pressing for the early resumption of this crucial national dialogue.