In the Courts
Madras HC refuses to halt Chennai municipal body from privatising sanitation work
The Madras High Court on Wednesday declined to halt the Greater Chennai Corporation from privatising sanitation work in two zones of the city. The court was hearing a petition filed by a sanitation worker challenging the municipal corporation’s decision to outsource the task to a private agency for a contract worth Rs 276 crore. The bench held that the policy decision cannot be quashed as it did not violate any law or constitutional provisions.
Setback for WB govt: Supreme Court junks review petition in teachers’ recruitment scam case
New Delhi: In a setback to the West Bengal government, the Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by the state government and others seeking review of its judgment, which upheld a decision invalidating the appointment of 25,753 teachers and other staff in state-run and state-aided schools over there. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma said the judgment of April 3, 2025 was passed after hearing extensive and exhaustive arguments and upon considering all aspects, factual, and legal.
'Absurd': Supreme Court Stays Uttarakhand Govt Notification Which Barred Blind Candidates From Applying In General Category
The Supreme Court today(August 18) stayed a 2018 Uttarakhand Government notification which restricts persons with blindness, visually impaired persons and those with locomotor disability, who are already excluded from reservation under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities ("PwBD"), from appearing in the general category for the Uttarakhand Judicial Services.
Migrant Realities
Bihar SIR: Latest ECI data raises more questions over higher deletions among women
A granular look at deletions in the special intensive revision (SIR) carried out by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar shows women electors significantly outnumbered men in the “permanently shifted” category. This trend was more pronounced among younger voters below the age of 40. The Hindu has found the SIR resulted in deletions of around 7 lakh more female electors compared to the rolls prepared as on January 1, 2025.
India’s democracy is failing the migrant citizen
A migrant’s dual belonging, which is economic participation in a host State and political identity in his home State, is being demonised by the state.
Fear vs flow: Migration and the city
For decades, cities have been magnets of opportunity, offering hope for social mobility. This movement of migrants has not been incidental to India's growth story, but central to it. Yet, an emerging pattern of fear-based governance now threatens this circulatory system, raising the question of whether India's cities can continue to serve as engines of migration and, by extension, engines of economic growth and development.
W.B. CM announces scheme for migrant workers facing harassment in other States
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says about 10,000 people have returned to the State in the past few months after being targeted in different States.
Sanitation Workers
Permanent jobs in garbage collection reinforces caste occupation: VCK’s Thirumavalavan
Thirumavalavan said that while the demand for permanent government jobs may appear fair, it reinforces the notion that those who clean human waste, drains, and garbage should continue doing so. “Supporting the demand only because they are Dalits is a very traditional way of thinking. Our demand must be to rescue them from this occupation. Around the world, technology has replaced manual scavenging and sanitation work. That must be our direction,” he said.
Parl panel flags slow rollout of safety gear, health benefits under NAMASTE sanitation scheme
The Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment has warned that despite progress in profiling sanitation workers under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem scheme, significant gaps remain in providing them protective gear, health coverage and training.
Employment News
Trade talks collapse could threaten 173,000 jobs in India’s gems sector
The suspension of trade negotiations between India and the United States poses a significant risk to the livelihoods of approximately 173,000 workers in India’s gems and jewellery industry, particularly during the festive season, according to the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council. It says India’s exports of natural cut and polished diamonds to the US could fall by as much as 80%, The diamond industry is critical to India’s economy, with the country cutting and polishing 90% of the world’s rough diamonds and employing some 959,000 workers, predominantly in Gujarat
Tiruppur orders on hold, pressure to sell cheap, Diwali fears—Trump tariff & Tamil Nadu hub
Senior knitwear workers recalled past slumps, including the 2008 financial crisis, GST rollout, and Covid-19. ‘Each time, the industry adapted until the scenario returned to normal.’
Real_money gaming staff now stare at unemployment
The new ban threatens jobs of over 200,000 persons employed with 400 online gaming companies.
Online money gaming serious social, public health issue; major negative impact on society: Vaishnaw
New Delhi: Online money gaming has become a serious social and public health issue, causing demonstrable negative impact on society, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday after the Lok Sabha passed a bill to ban online games played with money.
India’s unemployment rate for July declines to 5.2% from 5.6% in the previous month
India's unemployment rate experienced a decrease in July 2025, falling to 5.2% from 5.6% in the same month of the previous year. This data comes from the recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which was published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The survey indicates a positive trend in the country's employment scenario.
Rs 15,000 for first-time employees: Modi’s employment incentive push on Independence Day
New Delhi: In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of a new scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY), which he said would create employment opportunities for 3.5 crore young Indians. Budgeted with Rs 1 lakh crore, the scheme will entail a one-time incentive of Rs 15,000 to those who get their first job in the private sector. The scheme is applicable to first-time private sector employees drawing a salary of up to Rs 1 lakh per month and registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
Tailpiece
Beyond the Glamour: Tollywood Workers Strike Against Unfair Wages, Demand Dignity
The Telugu Film Industry Employees’ Federation (TFIEF), a coalition of 24 unions representing thousands of daily wage workers, has walked out demanding more than just a pay hike. They are demanding dignity. They are demanding to be seen. The dispute, at its core, is a battle for a fair share of the industry's burgeoning profits and a demand for dignity that has long been denied.
Benefits for Workers
Infosys gives 80% bonus to majority of employees for first quarter
Infosys has rolled out an average 80 per cent performance bonus for Q1, linked to employee ratings across PL4-PL6 levels, following stronger-than-expected quarterly growth.
Caste in Employment
Telangana’s Backward Class Quota Push: Congress Bets Big On Social Justice
The 42 per cent reservation could reshape state politics, spark legal battles and cement a loyal voter base for the ruling party.
Protest held in Mysuru against Nagamohan Das Commission report on internal reservation
The protest was called by the Karnataka State Federation of Dalit Right Groups, which alleged that their population was undercounted and hence, the quantum of reservation has been reduced.
Reports
AI Revolution: LinkedIn Survey Reveals How AI is Reshaping the Global Workforce
The 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report, a collaborative effort by Microsoft and LinkedIn, offers an exhaustive analysis of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining the modern workplace. This comprehensive report draws from a global survey of 31,000 individuals across 31 countries, supplemented by an in-depth examination of labour and hiring trends from LinkedIn, and an analysis of trillions of productivity signals from Microsoft 365.