FLO Mumbai, under the leadership of Chairperson Ms. Seema Saroj, in collaboration with Saksham Skill Census and SAPIO Analytics, organised “The Policy Roundtable & MOU Signing – Industry-Government Partnership for Skilling & Employability” at Wockhardt Towers. The event brought together an influential group of policymakers, industry leaders, social entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, educators, and impact-driven organisations to deliberate on the evolving future of employment, skilling, and workforce participation in Mumbai.
The session commenced with a welcome address by Chairperson Seema Saroj, who highlighted the importance of collaborative ecosystems between government, industry, and civil society to create meaningful employment opportunities and strengthen workforce readiness for the future economy.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between FLO Mumbai and Saksham Skill Census, focused on AI, Digital, and MSME initiatives aimed at empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs through skill development and employment-linked opportunities.
Chief Guest Saurabh Katiyar, collector of Mumbai Suburban District, appreciated the initiative and emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in building a future-ready workforce ecosystem. Also, these key participants & roundtable dignitaries participated in the policy roundtable: Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala, Seema Saroj, Samina Khorakiwala, Upasana Batra, Megha Suhas, Pooja Arambhan, Aarmeen Mogul Dordi, and Archana Khosla Burman.
The policy roundtable featured six thematic discussion segments focused on the changing workforce landscape in 2026, hiring challenges in the AI era, women’s participation in the workforce, labour codes and workplace safety, internships and apprenticeship models, and actionable partnerships for improving employability in Mumbai Suburban.
Industry leaders shared practical insights on Generative AI’s impact on entry-level jobs, inclusive hiring practices, women’s retention and leadership challenges, trust in skill credentials, and the need for stronger internship pipelines and policy interventions. The discussions encouraged cross-sector collaboration and generated valuable recommendations for sustainable and inclusive workforce development.
Key Takeaways
- Importance of industry-government collaboration for workforce development.
- Impact of Generative AI on future hiring and entry-level employment.
- Need for inclusive and localized hiring practices in Mumbai.
- Focus on increasing women’s workforce participation and leadership.
- Importance of safe, accessible, and supportive workplaces for women.
- Stronger internship and apprenticeship ecosystems are required.
- Growing importance of skill-based hiring and trusted credentials.
- AI, Digital, and MSME sectors identified as major growth opportunities.
- Public-private partnerships can drive measurable employment outcomes.
- Collaborative policy interventions are critical for future workforce readiness.
Impact & Outcome
Participation from leading policy makers, corporate leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and social impact professionals. 6 focused thematic policy discussion rounds were conducted, with cross-sector representation from healthcare, finance, law, education, MSMEs, wellness, public policy, and technology sectors.
Strategic MOU signed between FLO Mumbai and Saksham Skill Census. Action-oriented discussions around AI, employability, women in the workforce, and skilling ecosystems strengthened collaboration opportunities between government, industry, and civil society stakeholders.
Creation of a dialogue platform for the future workforce and employment solutions in Mumbai Suburban. The event successfully created a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and policy-oriented action towards skilling youth and powering enterprise.