DR DHANYA M B

Dhanya M.B is an economist and serves as Fellow (Faculty) at the V.V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI), Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India. She has over two decades of research and academic experience in development and labour economics.

She completed her Ph.D. in Economics with a specialization in Self-Employment through Microfinance and Rural Women Empowerment (2004–2008). At VVGNLI, she serves as the Coordinator of the Centre for Labour Market Studies and the Integrated Labour History Research Programme, two major research centres engaged in policy-oriented research and capacity-building initiatives in labour and employment studies.

Dr. Dhanya has played an important role in several national and international policy initiatives undertaken by the Government of India. During India’s G20 Presidency (2022–2023), she was deputed by the Ministry of Labour & Employment to coordinate and support G20-related work in addition to her responsibilities at VVGNLI. She has contributed extensively to labour policy formulation and advisory processes, including serving as:

  • Member of the Taskforce on Automation and the Future of Work (2024)
  • Working Group Member for the National Chief Secretaries Conference (2024)
  • Member of the Employment Working Group (EWG) under the G20 Indian Presidency (2023)
  • Contributor to the G20 Issue Paper on Gig and Platform Economy and Social Protection
  • Working Group Member on the Ratification of the ILO Forced Labour Protocol (2018)
  • Contributor to the Drafting of the National Employment Policy (2018–2019)
  • Member of the Tripartite Working Group for Ratification of ILO Conventions No. 87 and 98 (2013–2014)

Dr. Dhanya has represented India and presented research at several international forums and institutions, including programmes organised by the BRICS Labour Research Network, International Labour Organization (ILO), Friedrich Naumann Foundation, and the Chinese Academy of Labour and Social Security. She was an invited expert speaker at the 3rd ILO–Korea TVET Forum in Bangkok (2023), where she presented on “Growing Skill Responses in the Changing World of Work: Special Reference to South Asia.” She also delivered expert lectures on “India–Germany Labour Nexus: Exploring Market Dynamics in Europe” at international conferences organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for South Asia (2024).She has also represented India at BRICS labour research seminars/webinars/meetings hosted by institutions in Russia, China and Brazil, presenting on employment policies, platform work, AI impact on the Labour Market and post-pandemic labour market transitions.

As part of the BRICS Labour Research Institute Network, Dr. Dhanya has contributed to multiple international research studies and country reports, including:

  • Shaping the Future of Labour in BRICS (2026)
  • Artificial Intelligence and its Impact on the World of Work (2025)
  • Gig and Platform Employment in India (2024)
  • E-formalization Process in BRICS Countries (2022)

Dr. Dhanya is an ILO-certified trainer for the Gender and Entrepreneurship Together South Asia (GET AHEAD) programme and serves as Course Director and Coordinator for several international training programmes conducted under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. These programmes focus on themes such as the Future of Work and Technology, Gender issues in Labour, Innovative Leadership: Driving change and Fostering growth.

Dr. Dhanya has authored, co-authored, and co-edited numerous books, monographs, policy reports, and research papers published by national and international institutions. She has also published extensively in reputed journals and edited volumes on subjects such as gig and platform employment, labour force participation, gender and labour statistics, microfinance, youth employment, social protection, and labour rights. Her scholarly work has appeared in Elsevier, Sage Publications, Economic and Political Weekly, and various international research networks.

In addition to her research contributions, Dr. Dhanya has served as PhD co-supervisor and also as reviewer, editor, evaluator, and resource person for several academic journals, universities, and international organizations. She has delivered lectures/ served as panellist and conducted training sessions at universities/institutions, including JNU, IEG, PDNASS, NEUPA, NILERD, NICS, ITS, ILO, PAFI, NEHU, NHRC, Ambedkar University, FNF, NCW, NIT Trichy, NIT Kurukshetra, and University of Hyderabad, and several other national and international academic institutions.

She has presented research papers and participated in various national and international conferences/consultations organized by IGIDR, ILO, World Bank, Chinese Academy of Labour and Social Security, National Labour Market Observatory of the Ministry of Labour of Brazil,All-Russia Research Institute for Labour, PDNASS, CWDS, IRMA, UN Women, IJM,RGNIYD, French Institute, Institute of Public Enterprises, National Law University and Judicial Academy, National Commission for Women, Ministry of Labour & Employment, British Council, NIEPA, CDS, Sharda University etc.

She has also contributed to the course writing for Masters Programme in Labour and Development (IGNOU, New Delhi) and developed e-course material for ‘Code on wages’ for the iGOT platform. As part of the National Resource Centre on Education (NRCE) at NEUPA, identified teaching, learning resources and developed a syllabus for the subject of labour economics to develop a national repository of resources freely accessible to teachers. She has also undergone training/Course in the areas of ‘Wage policies and Living Wages’ organised in collaboration with the Work Quality Department of the ILO co-financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; “Private-sector Engagement for Livelihoods and Employment Opportunities of Vulnerable Groups in Fragile, Conflict-Affected and Emergency Situations” by ILO-ITC, Turin; “Short Course on Research Skills for South Asia” by IZA/FCDO, Germany; ‘Promotion of Youth Employment in Fragile Settings’, ‘Designing and implementing effective wage policies’, jointly organized by International Training Centre (ITC)-Turin and ILO- Delhi; and ‘Management of Social Security Systems’ organized by PDNASS. She has also served in the editorial board of the Journal of Economics and Public Policy by NMIMS and Awards Digest by VVGNLI.

Her current research focuses on evolving labour market transformations, particularly the future of work, Artificial Intelligence and employment, emerging skills, gig and platform work, labour economics, migration, gender dimensions of labour, and inclusive public policy frameworks.