Labour Reforms
‘Lazy’ Workforce or ‘Arrogant’ Government? Row Over Andhra Ordinance Allowing Ten-Hour Workdays
The government's stand that the extra hour is optional is met with deep scepticism by workers. According to the government, this is not about compulsion, but choice. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesperson Deepak Reddy frames the policy as a move that simply “removes an illegality”, enabling companies and willing employees to agree to an extra hour of work.
Farm News
Farmers relieved as labour arrives for paddy season
When there was a war-like situation last month, several farmers had shared that migrant workers were leaving, and they were apprehensive whether the labour would be back on time or not. But, the farmers were soon relieved when the labour returned on time. The arrival of workers from Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh provides much-needed support.
How A Rainwater Harvesting Campaign Brought Life Back To Gujarat’s Fields
A green revolution is transforming Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, where dry and barren farmlands are getting a new lease of life — thanks to an inspiring rainwater harvesting movement. Farmers here are building 'Khet Talavdi' (farm ponds) in their fields to collect rainwater, allowing them to irrigate across three farming seasons. With the slogan “Gaon ka paani gaon mein, khet ka paani khet mein,” the community has also come together to recharge borewells and adopt drip irrigation techniques. So far, over 1,000 ponds have been constructed, helping store 800 crore litres of water last year alone!
How a US graduate is revolutionising farming with AI & driverless tech in Haryana
In a small village of Jamalpur, in Karnal district, a 29-year-old young and progressive farmer Bir Virk is transforming traditional farming with cutting-edge technology. Using an AI-driven system imported from Sweden, making his tractors driverless, Bir manages over 200 acres of farmland efficiently and cost-effectively. His tractors operate through precise GNSS-guided commands controlled via an iPad, saving time, reducing labour, and cutting cultivation costs by 25%.
Skilling
Why the Skill India Initiative Has Lost Its Way
Studies have shown that NSDC-funded training providers’ employability record has been less than stellar at only 22% over its lifetime.
Migrant Realities
'There was no time': Madrasi Camp demolished in south Delhi after HC order, relief rolls in from Tamil Nadu
For the displaced, the upheaval began on June 1, when the South Delhi settlement known informally as Madrasi Camp was demolished after a Delhi High Court order because, besides encroaching on railway land, it was blocking the Barapullah drain. The camp had been home to 370 migrant Tamil families, many of whom had lived there for decades, and most of whom worked in the informal service economy, cleaning homes and cars. So, "to address their urgent needs", the Tamil Nadu govt is offering each displaced family Rs 8,000 in cash and a stock of essentials as one-time aid. It is what a disaster-struck Tamil person in Tamil Nadu would have received as assistance from the state.
Exporting Workers
Indian workers in Israel pick daily drill of sirens, shelters over evacuation
“About 350 Indian workers have left and maybe 600 more have enrolled to go back to India. Thousands others are feeling quite safe mainly due to the system of phone alerts and sirens being deployed in Israel,” says Mohan Lal, 33. He described how, in the days following the June 13 attacks by Iran, they would have to rush several times in the day and night to the shelters, but now that was needed only once or twice a day.
In the Courts
Beneficiary Of Fraud Can't Be Supported By Public Money: Calcutta HC Restrains State From Paying Stipend To Staff Whose Jobs Were Cancelled By SC
The court noted that by providing stipend to those whose appointments were deemed fraudulent by the Supreme Court, the State was attempting to overreach the order of the Apex Court.
Providing Jobs
Congress floated test balloon with job fair on Rahul’s 55th birthday. And thousands turned up
New Delhi: The Congress’ youth wing and the Delhi unit organised a job fair at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium here Thursday to mark their leader Rahul Gandhi’s 55th birthday, and to underline the issue of unemployment in the country. DPCC president Yadav said at least 100 companies, including Amazon, Tata, Zepto and Blinkit, participated in the job fair with the aim of recruiting candidates from various educational backgrounds, from 12th pass students to PhD-holders. An applicant with a token number said, “This is the first time any party has done something like this. Other parties are busy with Hindu-Muslim debates. I want a regular salary, and a stable job. That’s it.”
Indian Youth Congress to organise job fair in Bihar from July 15-25
“Bihar has become a stronghold of migration today, both Bihar and the Central Government are unable to employ the youth of Bihar, so now we will organise a job fair in Patna,” said IYC National President Uday Bhanu Chib.
PLI schemes attract Rs 1.76 lakh cr investment, create 12 lakh jobs: Govt
India's PLI schemes show strong results. Investments reach Rs 1.76 lakh crore. Production exceeds Rs 16.5 lakh crore. Over 12 lakh jobs are created by March 2025. Incentives of Rs 21,534 crore are disbursed across sectors. Focus is now on sectors with competitive advantages. The schemes boost exports and domestic value addition. MSMEs also benefit significantly from the initiative.
Women in the Workforce
More women working but earnings a concern
The Global Gender Gap Report released by World Economic Forum this month ranks India at 131 out of 148 countries on its gender gap index.
Global Gender Gap Report 2025
The Global Gender Gap Index annually benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (subindexes): Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. Since launching in 2006, it is the longest-standing index tracking the progress of numerous countries’ efforts towards closing these gaps over time.
Maternity benefits, paid leaves, dignity at workplace: Domestic workers speak out for rights
The challenges faced by domestic workers — most of them women — came to the fore at a multi-stakeholder dialogue at an auditorium in Moulali Yuva Kendra on Friday. Thirteen per cent of the workers say they are denied access to toilets at the homes where they work. The consultation brought together domestic workers, employers, trade union representatives and labour law experts to deliberate on a legal framework for domestic work.
Labour Demands
Air India Plane Crash: 'अगर इन खामियों को समय पर ठीक.. ', जनरल सेक्रेटरी जॉर्ज इब्राहिम का बड़ा बयान
VIDEO: 12 जून 2025 को अहमदाबाद में एयर इंडिया की फ्लाइट AI 171 (ड्रीमलाइनर एयरक्राफ्ट B787/8 सीरीज़) के भयावह हादसे में जान गंवाने वाले यात्रियों और कॉकपिट और केबिन क्रू के परिवारों के प्रति गहरी संवेदना जताते हुए एविएशन इंडस्ट्री इम्प्लॉइज गिल्ड के जनरल सेक्रेटरी जॉर्ज इब्राहिम ने ABP न्यूज़ से बताया कि एयरइंडिया में काम करने वाले क्रू मेम्बर अगर फ्लाइट की टेक्निकल खामियां बताते हैं तो उनपर करवाई की जाती है। इब्राहिम ने आगे बताया कि हमने प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी को पत्र लिखा है और हमारी उम्मीद है कि उसे पत्र का संज्ञान लिया जाएगा हमने तो यहां तक मांग की है कि इस मामले में सीबीआई की जांच की जाए ताकि सच सामने आ पाए।
Employment News
US factories struggle to fill 400,000 open jobs
The pool of blue-collar workers who are able and willing to perform tasks on a factory floor in the United States is shrinking. As baby boomers retire, few young people are lining to take their place. About 400,000 manufacturing jobs are currently unfilled, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Child Labour News
90 pc of kids rescued last year were from child labour: report
NEW DELHI: Nearly 90% of the 44,902 children freed from the clutches of exploitation in over 27,000 operations between April 2024 and March this year were rescued from child labour according to a report. The children were rescued by a collective of voluntary organisations in collaboration with authorities.
These states recorded the highest child labour rescues in 2024-25 — from spas, parlours, orchestras
Signifying a major crackdown on child labour and trafficking networks, Telangana, Bihar and Rajasthan have emerged as the top three states in India for child labour rescues as well as for the number of arrests in child labour related cases in 2024-25, a study by a network working in the field of child rights has shown. Of the 53,651 children rescued nationwide by a network of over 250 NGOs, Rajasthan accounted for as many as 3,847 child labour rescues while Telangana topped the list with 11,063 rescues followed by Bihar with 3,974 rescues.
Child labour needs to be eradicated in garment sector: NHRC study
Chennai: Textile and garment sector in Tirupur, Coimbatore, Mysuru and Bengaluru do not employ child labour below the age of 14 in the organised sector, but they are involved in other areas of the value chain which needs to be addressed, a study commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) concluded.