NITAa

AIforInclusiveSocietal1

ExpertCouncilMembers

Ms.ArundhatiBhattacharya

Chairperson&CEO,

SalesforceIndia&SouthAsia

Mr.VenkatPadmanabhan

MD,MicrosoftResearch

India

Mr.RomalShetty

CEO,DeloitteSouthAsia

Mr.RizwanKoita

Chairperson,NABH|

Co-Founder,CitiusTech|

Co-Founder,KoitaFoundation

Mr.AdityaNatraj

CEO,PiramalFoundation

Mr.RahulMatthan

Partner,Trilegal

Ms.SoniaPant

ProgrammeDirector,SkillDevelopment,Labour&Employment,NITIAayog

Mr.IshtiyaqueAhmed

ProgrammeDirector,

Industry/MSME,NITIAayog

Foreword

A

sIndiaaspirestowardsthevisionofViksitBharatby2047,onequestionstandsbeforeus:howdoweensurethatthisjourneyofprosperity,equity,andinnovationincludeseveryone?Much oftheglobaldiscoursearoundArtificialIntelligencehas focusedonitseffectsontheformaleconomy.Yet,the heartbeatofIndialiesinits490millioninformalworkers— thefarmers,artisans,healthcareproviders,andservice professionalswhoformthebedrockofoursocietyand economy.Thisroadmapisapioneeringefforttoplacetheir stories,struggles,andaspirationsattheverycenterofour nationalconversationontechnology.

Inthesepages,youwillmeetBindu,Samar,Lata,Aman,andRekha—ahealthcareworker,acarpenter,aweaver,anelectrician,andafarmer.Theirlivedrealitiesremindusthatthetruemeasureoftechnologicalprogressisnotsimplyinproductivitygainsoreconomicgrowth,butin

itspowertotransformliveswithdignity,opportunity,andhope.ForIndia,thechallengeisnotjusttodeployAI—itistomakeAImatterinthelivesofmillionswhohavehistoricallybeenonthemarginsofformaldevelopmentpathways.

Thevisionpresentedhereisbothambitiousandachievable.ItproposesaNationalMission:DigitalShramSetu—atechnology-drivenbridgedesignedtoempowerinformalworkerswithtrust,access,andskillsinthedigitalage.ByharnessingfrontiertechnologiessuchasAI,blockchain,andimmersivelearning,wecandismantlesystemicbarriersandenableinclusionatascaletheworldhasneverwitnessed.Ourpioneeringsuccesswithdigitalpublicinfrastructure—fromAadhaartoUPI—hasshowntheworldwhatIndiacanachievewheninnovationiscombinedwithinclusivity.Wenowstandatasimilarinflexionpoint,withaonce-in-a-generationopportunitytoreimaginethefutureofworkforeveryIndian.

Thisisnotataskforoneinstitutionorsectoralone.Itcallsforpurposefulcollaborationbetweengovernment,industry,civilsociety,andacademia.Ifwecometogetherwithintent,compassion,andresolve,wewillnotonlyaccelerateIndia’sdevelopmenttrajectorybutalsoensurethatourgrowthstoryisonethatbelongstoall—resilient,inclusive,andequitable.

Itismyprivilegetointroducethisroadmap.Mayitserveasacalltoaction,aninspiration,andmostimportantly,areminderthatthepromiseofViksitBharat2047willbefulfilledonlywheneveryworker,formalorinformal,standsnotjustasabeneficiaryofprogress,butasitscatalyst.

ShriB.V.R.Subrahmanyam

CEO,NITIAayog

Foreword

A

crosstheworld,ArtificialIntelligenceistriggeringdebatesonautomation,efficiency,anddisruption.ButhereinIndia,wearechartingadifferentcourse—onewheretechnologyisnotaforceofexclusion,butofextraordinaryinclusion.

IthinkthebiggestopportunityforAIandotherfrontiertechnologiesliesintheirabilitytorevolutioniselifeforthe490millioninformalworkerswhopowerIndia’seconomicengine.Howdoweputtheworld’smostadvancedtechnologiesinthehandsofthemostoverlooked,sotheycanleapfrogconstraintsandclaimtheirrightfulplaceinIndia’sgrowthstory?

Toanswerthis,welookedfarbeyonddatasetsand

algorithms.Weimmersedourselvesinthelivedrealities

ofinformalworkers—ahomehealthcareaideinRajkot,a

carpenterinDelhi,afarmer,andothers—tounderstand

theirchallengesanddreams.Thesestoriesilluminate

thebarriersthatpersist,butalsorevealtheimmensepotentialthattherighttechnology,thoughtfullydeployed,canunlock.Forthesemillions,technologymustnotreplace,butamplifytheirskills,aspirations,andlivelihoods.

Thisroadmapenvisionsa2035wherevoice-first,AI-poweredinterfacesshatterbarriersoflanguageandliteracy,makingdigitalplatformsuniversallyaccessible;wheresmartcontractsguaranteetimelyandtransparentpayments;wheremicro-credentialsandon-demandlearningempowerworkerstoupskillatthespeedoftheirambition.Butachievingthisinclusivedigitalleapwillrequiremorethanoptimism—itwilldemandconcertedinvestmentsinR&D,targetedskillinginitiatives,andthenurturingofarobust,innovation-drivenecosystem.

Attheheartofthisblueprintstandsthenationalmission,‘DigitalShramSetu’,anurgentcalltoharnessfrontiertechnologiesfortheupliftmentofIndia’sinformalsectoratscale.Thisisavisionrootednotjustintechnologicalpossibility,butinmoralnecessity.

IamdeeplygratefultotheExpertCouncilfortheirinvaluableguidanceandtoDeloitteforbeingexemplarypartnersonthisjourney.ThisroadmapisanattempttoshapeafutureinwhicheveryIndianworker,irrespectiveofbackgroundorprofession,isempoweredtobeafullparticipantinournation’sprogress.IamconfidentitsinsightswillserveasacatalyticguideaswebuildatrulyinclusiveandprosperousIndia.

DebjaniGhosh

DistinguishedFellow,NITIAayogChiefArchitect,NITIFrontierTechHub

ExecutiveSummary

M

ostdiscussionsandreportsonArtificialIntelligence(AI)focusonwhite-collarprofessionalsandpredictanalmostcertainlossofjobsinthesegmentintheabsenceofurgentinterventions.Littleattention,ifany,ispaidtohowAIcanserveIndia’s490millioninformalworkers[1],theverypeoplewhoformthebackboneofoureconomy.

Thisworkaimstochangethat.Itiscentredonpeople-Bindu,a36-year-oldhealthcareworkerfromRajkot;Samar,a38-year-oldcarpenterfromDelhi;Lata,a40-year-oldhandloomweaverfromLucknow;Aman,a35-year-oldelectricianfromPatna;Rekha,a42-year-oldfarmerfromOdishaandmillionsofotherslikethemwhopowerIndia’svastinformalworkforce.

Theyaremorethanworkers;theyaretheheartofIndia’seconomicengineandholdthekeytoaViksitBharat.ThetruetestofAI’spromiseliesinitsabilitytotransformtheirlivesandlivelihoods.

AsIndiaapproachesitscentenaryofindependencein2047,thevisionofViksitBharatchartsabold,inclusivepathwaytobecomingadevelopednation.Atitscoreliesacriticalimperative:integratingIndia’sinformalworkforce,whichcomprisesroughly90percentofthelabourforce[1]andcontributesnearlyhalfoftheGrossDomesticProduct(GDP).

Despitetheirroleinsectorssuchasconstruction,textiles,foodservices,caregivingandhandicrafts,theseworkerscontinuetooperateinlow-productivity,insecureenvironmentsthatarelargelyexcludedfromformalsystems,socialprotectionsandopportunitypathways.

ThisroadmaphighlightstherolethatAIandfrontiertechnologiescanplayinunlockingthepotentialofIndia’sinformaltradeworkforceandtransformingthemintocatalystsforViksitBharat,ifdeployedthoughtfullyandinclusively.

Importantly,thisisalivingdocument,intendedtocontinuouslyevolveasnewinsights,technologies,andchallengesemerge—ensuringthatinterventionsremainrelevant,resilient,andfuture-ready.

Drawingonground-levelinsightsandrealworkerprofiles,itidentifiesfivecorechallenges,namelyfinancialinsecurity,

limitedmarketaccess,lackofskilling,inadequatesocialprotectionandlowproductivity,thatcontinuetoholdbackthissegmentfromrealisingitsfullpotential.Thementionedchallengesarerootedinfourdeepersystemicbarriers:lackoftrust,pooraccessandusabilityofservices,lowawarenessandskillsandoutdatedtoolsandprocesses.

TheroadmapdiscusseshowfrontiertechnologiessuchasArtificialIntelligence,InternetofThings,blockchain,roboticsandimmersivelearningcanbeharnessedtobreaksystemicbarriersfacedbyIndia’sinformalworkforce.Itispremisedontheevolutionofamoreaccessible,affordableandresilienttechnologyinfrastructurecapableofsupportingscaleandinclusion.Thisroadmapenvisionsafuturewhere,by2035,Indialeadsindeployingthesetechnologiestoenabletransformativesolutions:modularanddemand-drivenskillingsmartcontractslinkedtoverifiedworkoutcomesandreal-timeaccesstojobs,marketsandentitlementsdesignedwiththerealitiesoftheinformalsectoratthecore.

Torealisethisvision,theroadmapproposesanationalmissioncalledDigitalShramSetutodrivetheadoptionoffrontiertechnologiesacrossIndia’sinformalworkforce.Itoutlinesatargetedstrategyfocusedonpersonaorsector-ledprioritisation,state-drivenimplementation,regulatoryenablementandstrategicpartnershipstoensureaffordabilityandscale.Themissionwillmobilisestakeholdersacrossgovernment,industryandcivilsocietyandwillbeguidedbyarobust,multi-levelimpactevaluationframework.

However,tomakethismissionareality,weneedtoactnow!India’spastsuccesseswithdigitalpublicinfrastructuresuchasAadhaar,UPIandJanDhandemonstrateourabilitytobuildinclusive,at-scaleplatformsthatchangelives.Withastrongdigitalbackbone,ayoungworkforceandtheuntappedpotentialoftheinformalsector,Indiahasaonce-in-a-generationopportunity.Delayedactionwouldmeanleavingmillionsbehindandweakeningourdevelopmenttrajectory.However,ifweactboldlyandwithintent,wecanplaceIndia’sinformalworkersatthecentreofourgrowthstoryandindoingso,securethefoundationsofatrulyViksitBharat.

Index

1.VIKSITBHARAT2047:EMPOWERINGTHEINFORMALWORKFORCE1ISTHEFOUNDATIONOFATRULYDEVELOPEDINDIA

2.UNDERSTANDINGTHECURRENTCHALLENGESFACEDBYTHE4INFORMALTRADEWORKFORCE

3.VISION2035:TRANSFORMINGINFORMALLIVELIHOODS8THROUGHTECHNOLOGY

4.BRIDGINGTHEGAP:KEYASSUMPTIONSANDACTIONABLE18RECOMMENDATIONSFORSUCCESS

5.THEHIGHCOSTOFDELAY:WHYINDIAMUSTACTNOW!20

6.PROPOSEDRECOMMENDATION:MISSIONDIGITALSHRAMSETU21

REFERENCES28

APPENDICES29

NITIAayog

1|AIforInclusiveSocietalDevelopment

1.VIKSITBHARAT2047:EMPOWERINGTHEINFORMALWORKFORCEISTHEFOUNDATIONOFATRULYDEVELOPEDINDIA

India’scentenaryofindependencein2047ismorethanasymbolicmilestone.Itisastrategicinflectionpoint.TheGovernmentofIndia’sViksitBharat2047visionoutlinesanambitioustransformation:aUS$30trillioneconomy,aUS$18,226percapitaincome[2]andasocietycharacterisedbyprosperity,equity,innovationandsustainability.Thisambitiousgoalbuildsonsevendecadesofnationalprogress,furtherreinforcednowbytransformativeinitiativessuchasDigitalIndia,MakeinIndia,SwachhBharatandAtmanirbharBharat.Thesereformshaveacceleratedinnovationandlaidastrongfoundationfordigitalempowermentandself-reliance,positioningIndiaasthefourth-largesteconomy[3]intheworld.However,realisingthevisiondemandsaddressingafundamentalchallenge:integratingIndia’svastinformaltradeworkforceofapproximately490million[1]whichremainslargelyexcludedfromthecountry’scoreeconomicgains.

Informaltradeworkersareindividualsengagedineconomicactivitiesoutsideformalemploymentsystems,withoutwrittencontracts,jobsecurityorsocialprotection.Theyincludeskilled,semi-skilledandunskilledworkerssuchascarpenters,drivers,agriculturallabourersandhelpers,whooftenworkininformal,self-employedorsubcontractedarrangementsacrosssectors.

Today,around90percentofIndia’slabourforceoperatesintheinformalsector,[1]poweringessentialindustriessuchasconstruction,agriculture,logistics,retailandartisanalmanufacturing.Yet,despitetheirvitalcontributiontotheeconomy,tradeworkers’productivity,measuredaspercapitaincomeperhour,remainsaroundUS$5perhour,almosthalfoftheoverallaverageofUS$11perhour,[4]reflectingpersistentgapsinaccesstotools,trainingandsupportsystems.

Trappedinlow-wage,low-productivityroleswithoutjobsecurity,structuredtrainingorsocialprotection,theseworkerscannotcontributeoptimallyorrealisetheirfullpotential.Women’sparticipationintheworkforcesitsat37percent,[5]comparedwithaglobalaverageof47percent,[6]furthererodingoverallproductivityandeconomicresilience.Manyworkers,shoulderunpaidcaregivinganddomesticresponsibilities,suchaseldercare,householdmanagement,children’seducation.Thisinvisiblelabour,thoughcentraltothesocialandeconomicfabric,remainsunrecognisedinproductivitymetricsandlimitstimeforpaidemploymentorskilldevelopment.

ThisroadmapcallsouttheurgentimperativetoreversethetrendofmarginalisationandacceleratetheroleofAIinintegratingtheinformaltradeworkforceintoIndia’slong-termdevelopmentagenda.Theyear2047representstheultimatepointofarrivalforahigh-incomeIndiawhereeveryworker,regardlessofbackgroundorsector,hasaccesstoformalemploymentpathways,comprehensivesocialprotectionandtoolsthatenhanceincomelevels,improveproductivityandelevatethequalityoflife.

NITIAayog

enableddeliveryofuniversalsocialbenefits.

AIforInclusiveSocietalDevelopment|2

}~$8.3K

deficitby

2047

$3.2K

Keynationaloutcomesenvisionedfor2047includethefollowing:

Raisingper-capitaincometoUS$18,226,driving

nominalGDPtoUS$30trillionandcementingIndiashigh-income

status.[7]

Securingapositionamongthetop10nationsonthe

GlobalGenderGapIndex[10],demonstratingworld-class

achievementsinclosing

economicandsocialgenderdisparities.

Elevatingfemalelabour-forceparticipationtoover70percent,re?ecting

sustainedinvestmentsin

gender-focusededucation,vocationaltrainingand

workplacereforms.[8]

Achievinguniversalsocial-securitycoveragefor

workers,guaranteeing

comprehensivebene?ts

thatincludedpensions,

healthinsuranceandpaidleaveforevery

llllllllllIllllllllllllll

employee.[19]

Formalising73.2percentof

erstwhileinformal

enterprises[9],reducingthe

informalsectorsshareto40

percentthroughuniversal

digitalregistration,

streamlinedcomplianceand

lIllllllllllllllllllIllllllll

accessiblecredit.

However,nationalaveragesoftenmasktheexperienceofIndia’sinformaltradeworkforce.Ourdeepdiveintothissegmentrevealsasteeperclimbandhigherpotential.

Figure1:TargetbenchmarksforIndia’sinformaltradeworkforceby2035and2047

1A.PerCapitaIncome

$16,000

$12,000

$8,000

$4,000$0

$14.5K

$5.5K

$1.8K

$6.2K

202520352047

PerCapitaIncome(BAUGrowth)

PerCapitaIncome(AggressiveGrowth)

1B.Productivity

US$49/hour

US$5/hour

US$15/hour

202520352047

CurrentlytheProductivity(byGDPperhour)forinformalworkerisapproximatelyUS$5perhour,[13][22][23]correspondingtoanannualpercapitaincomeofaroundUS$1,800.[11][21]ToachievethetargetedpercapitaincomeofapproximatelyUS$14,500by2047,asubstantiallyhighergrowthratewillberequired.InvestinginfrontiertechnologieswillenableIndiatosignificantlyenhanceproductivityandearnings,supportingprogresstowardsitsambitioustarget.

Withfemaleparticipationstillatamodest15percent(excludingagriculture)[12]and48percentsocialprotectioncoverage,[18]theinformaltradesectorfacesdeepinclusiongapsandnarrowingthesedisparitiesby2047willrequiregender-responsiveskilling,inclusiveinfrastructureandtech-

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3|AIforInclusiveSocietalDevelopment

1C.Socialsecuritycoverage1D.Femalelabourforceparticipation

WomenParticipation

25%

15%

2025

2035

42%

2047

CoverageofSocialSecurityBenefits

100%

2025

2035

2047

80%

48%

ThetransformationofIndia’sinformaleconomyhingesonthestrategicuseoffrontiertechnologies,withAIattheforefront.Under#AIforAll,AIisviewedasatoolforinnovationaswellasthefoundationforinclusivegrowth.Byembeddingintelligentsystemsacrosssectorsrangingfromlabourmarketsandfinancialservicestohealthcare,skillingandsocialprotection,IndiacanintegrateinformaltradeworkersintothemainstreamoftheFourthIndustrialRevolution,ensuringthattechnologybecomesadriverforopportunity,notdisplacement.

ThisroadmapdiscussesapotentialblueprintforleveragingAIandfrontiertechtoboostproductivity,raiseincomesandbridgethegapbetweenhigh-growthsectorsandlabour-intensivetrades.EmpoweringtheinformalworkforceiscentraltoIndia’scompetitiveness,resilienceandtheinclusivevisionofViksitBharat2047.

NITIAayog

ViksitBharat2047.

AIforInclusiveSocietalDevelopment|4

2.UNDERSTANDINGTHECURRENTCHALLENGESFACEDBYTHEINFORMALTRADEWORKFORCE

India’sinformalsectorcontributesaround45percentoftheGDP[13],playingacriticalroleintheeconomy.Thisinformalityspansmultiplesectorsoftheeconomy,asshowninthesectoraldistributionandcorrespondingworkerprofilesinFigure2.

Constructionand

infrastructure

15-17%

Constructionworkers,Painters,

Masons,Heavyequipment

operators,Fabricators/Welders,

Carpenters,Electricians,

Plumbers

Civic,domesticand

healthcareservices

8-10%

Domesticworkers,ASHA

workers,Sanitationworkers,

Nurses,Labtechnicians,Home

healthcareaides

Retailandfoodservices

6-8%

Kiranastoreowners,

Super/HyperMartworkers,

Waiters,Streetfoodvendors,

Dhabaworkers

Artisans

2-4%

Diamondcutters,Potters,

Blacksmiths,Handloomweavers,

Leatherworkers,Stonecarvers,

Tailors,Toolkitmakers,

Goldsmiths,Cobblers,Coir

weavers,DollandToymakers,

Barbers,Armourers,Fishingnet

makers,Locksmiths

Logisticsandtransportation

3-5%

Deliverydrivers,Heavyvehicle

drivers,Cab/Commercialdrivers,

Autorickshawdrivers

Others

7-10%

Unorganisededucators,Textile

workers,Tourguides,

Aquacultureworkers,Repair

technicians,Portworkers,

Laundryworkers,Seafood

processingworkers,Ceramickiln

operators

Figure2:DistributionofIndia’sinformaltradeworkforcebysectorandcorrespondingworkprofiles

Agricultureandallied

activities

46-48%

Cultivators,Agriculturallaborers,

Livestockhandlers,Horticulture

workers

Manufacturingand

industrialactivities

4-6%

Manufacturingworkers,

Machineoperators,Packaging

workers,Miners

Sources:PLFSReport(s),PIB,DeloitteResearchandModelling

Acrossthesesectors,theinformaleconomyischaracterisedby:

?Casuallabourperformedmostlythroughself-employmentorsmallunregisteredenterprises

?Limitedornoformalskillingandtraining

?Limitedusageoftechnology

?Lowornohealthandsocialsecuritycoverage

Whilenationalschemessuchase-Shram,PMVishwakarma,PMSVANidhi,AyushmanBharat,NationalUrbanLivelihoodMission(NULM)andNationalRuralLivelihoodMission(NRLM)aimstoaddressthesegaps,theirimpacthasbeenuneven.Strengtheningtheseschemesthroughtechnology-drivenintegrationandeffectivereal-time,last-miledeliveryiscrucial.IndiahaslearntimportantlessonsfromthesuccessfuldeploymentofDigitalPublicInfrastructure(DPI).Usingtheselearningscanhelpunlocktransformativeopportunitiestoempowerinformaltradeworkersatscale.

Tounleashthispotential,wemustunderstandtherealchallenges,needsandaspirationsoftheinformaltradeworkforceanddesignsolutionsthatareinclusive,practicalandfuture-readyfor

NITIAayog

5|AIforInclusiveSocietalDevelopment

Forthispurpose,apersona-basedapproachhasbeenadoptedtoreflectthefragmentedrealityoftheinformalworkforceandtohighlightthevariedchallengesfacedbydifferenttypesofworkers,insteadofrelyingonaone-size-fits-allperspective.

Thisapproachinvolvescreatingresearch-backedprofilesthatcapturekeytraits,behavioursandneedsofinformaltradeworkers.Postextensiveresearchacrossdifferentsectors,fromauniverseofapproximately490millioninformalworkers[1]about55workerprofilesweredeveloped(referAppendixA),outofwhicheightkeypersonas,namelyCultivators,Textileworkers,Artisans(potters,blacksmith,coirweaversetc.),Unorganisededucators,Homehealthcareaides,Utilitytradeworkers(electricians,plumbersetc.),KiranastoreworkersandTourguideswereidentifiedfordeeperanalysis(referAppendixB).Thepersonaselectionprocesswasdrivenbyfourkeydimensions:populationsize,sectoralalignment,potentialforimpactandstrategicrelevance.Inaddition,factorssuchasfemaleworkforceparticipation,potentialforsocialimpact,alignmenttoemergingsectors,demographicrelevanceandnicheoccupationswereconsideredtoensurebalancedandinclusiverepresentationoftheinformalworkforce(referAppendixCandD).Finally,8personaswerefinalisedbasedonthefactorsdiscussedinconsultationwiththeExpertCouncil(refertoAppendixE).Thesepersonascapturecommonpatternsandtheinsightsapplymorebroadlyacrosstheinformaltradeworkforce.

Toensurethattheanalysisreflectson-groundrealities,adeepdivestudyoftheseeightinformaltradeworkerpersonaswasconducted.Eachpersonawasexaminedthroughamulti-dimensionallens,coveringworkconditions,skilllevels,accesstofinanceandsocialprotection,digitalreadinessandsystemicbarriers(refertoAppendixBfordetailedchallengesbyeachpersona).Theanalysiswasanchoredinamixed-methodsapproachthatintegratesrigoroussecondaryresearchwithin-depthprimaryfieldengagement.Theresultinginsightsenabledthedevelopmentofdetailedpain-pointprofilesforeachworkergroup(refertoAppendixFformethodologyandsources).Thisapproachcanfurtherbescaledtovariousotherworkerprofilesandsectors.

Thefindingsrevealadiverserangeofstructuralandoperationalchallengesfacedbytheinformalsector,includingincomeinstability,exclusionfromformalsystems,weaksocialprotection,workflowinefficienciesandlimitedaccesstoskilling.Theserecurringissuesacrossworkergroupsweredistilledintofivecorethemesthatanchorthisstudy:financialfragility&volatility,marketaccess&demandlinkages,skilling&adoption,socialprotection&occupationalsafetyandproductivitygaps(refertoFigure3).Together,theyrepresentthekeyareasthatfrontiertechnologiesmustaddresstoenablelarge-scaleinclusion.

NITIAayog

AIforInclusiveSocietalDevelopment|6

Figure3:Thematicchallengesfacedbytheinformaltradeworkforce

Financialfragilityandvolatility

Workersfaceconstant

?nancialinstabilityduetoirregularincomes,lackof

Limitedaccesstocredit:Noveri?ableincome

orcomplexloanproceduresexcludethemfromaccessingtimely?nanceforemergenciesor

livelihoodinvestments

?Irregularwage/paymentanddelays:Absenceof

bu?ersandrelianceoninformalcredit.

delaysanddisputes.

contractsandtrustedidentitiesleadstowage

Marketaccessanddemandlinkages

Mosttradeworkersoperateonthemarginsofthemarket,withlimitedaccesstosteadydemand,securecontractsordigitalplatforms.

?Limitedaccesstosustainedlivelihoodstreams:Fragmentedjobaccess,lackofveri?edidentitiesandnovisibilityintofuturedemandleadsto

chronicincomeinstability&underemployment.

?Lackofadequatedemandconnectionsfor

migrantworkers:WithoutportableIDsorjob-

matchingsystems,migrantsrelyonmediatorsandfaceexploitation.

?Limitedaccessandtrustinmarketplace:Low

trust,poorvisibilityandnon-inclusiveplatformslimitworkers’accesstoconsistentdemandandsustainablelivelihoods

Skillingandadoption

Skillingecosystemsarefragmented,non–

adaptiveandoften

disconnectedfromreal–

receivelittleornoformaltraining.Digitalskillingtoolsarerarelylocalised,adaptiveorsuitedtolow-enddevicesmakingadoptiondi?cultand

?Skillobsolescenceandlimitedupskillingaccess:Mostworkersrelyonoutdatedmethodsand

worldjobdemands.

outcomeslimited.

Socialprotectionandoccupationalsafety

Lackofaccesstosocialsecuritybene?ts:

Workersstruggletobene?tfromsocial

Theinformalworkforce

remainsoutsidetheambitofinstitutionalprotection,

makingthemhighlyvulnerabletoshocks.

schemesduetoalackofawareness,digitalbarriersandnon-portablerecords.

?Occupationalhealthandsafetyrisks:Absenceofsafetystandards,riskmonitoringandprotectivetechnologiesexposesworkerstoconstanthealth

hazardswithoutrecourse.

Productivitygaps

Productivityissti?ednotbyworkere?ort,butby

systemicine?cienciesandlackofaccesstomoderntoolsandtechnologies.

outputandnoperformancevisibility.

optimisationandhavelimitedaccesstouser-friendlytoolswhichresultsinhighe?ort,low

?Limitedaccesstodigitaltoolsandine?cienciesinmanualwork?ows:Mostinformalworkersrelyonminimalmechanisation,lackwork?ow

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7|AIforInclusiveSocietalDevelopment

Lookingdeeper,thesefivechallengethemesoutlinedare