Migrant Realities
One Nation, Fragmented Rations: migration and food (in)security in Bengaluru
“People from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Odisha do come to our store to avail rations through portability. But the government is not allotting more grains to meet the demand,” Kumar said. Portability is a feature of the One Nation One Ration Card scheme passed in 2019, by the Central Government, to offer subsidized food grains from ration shops for all cardholders, in any part of India. In theory, ONORC is supposed to provide subsidised rations, whether the migrant family claims it at the home district or end destination. In reality, ration coverage is not guaranteed, even for migrants who have completed the necessary documentation to show the transfer, migrant workers said.
Research
Mobility as Social Protection: Fare-free Public Bus Transport and Women’s Economic Participation- A Study of Karnataka’s “Shakti Yojane”
The JustJobs Network, in collaboration with the Government of Karnataka, conducted a rigorous two-part research study to assess how fare-free public transport shapes women’s mobility, livelihoods, and autonomy…The focus was on women from low-income and informal-sector households who depend most on public transport. The research looks at how removing daily transport costs supports their ability to travel for work and essential needs, improves household financial stability, and builds confidence and independence in public spaces.
News from States
Giving land rights to tea plantation workers in Assam will not solve their problem. The devil is in the details
The main focus of the Act, which has garnered widespread attention, is the insertion of a new Section 7A in the Act whereby “the government, after acquiring land under labour lines, gives settlement of such lands to tea garden workers residing and in occupation of such land.” At first, it appears that the longstanding demand for pattas (land titles) for tea workers is finally realised. However, much is left to speculation as to how this land settlement materialises for tea workers (permanent, temporary and descendants) who live and work in acute precarity on plantations.
Bihar fast-tracks hiring to fill long-standing shortage of doctors and nurses
The Bihar government has launched an accelerated recruitment drive to tackle the persistent shortage of medical staff across the state’s healthcare system. The large-scale hiring is intended to strengthen services from rural primary health centres to district hospitals, many of which have been operating with severe staffing gaps for years. Beginning January 2026, the health department will induct more than 11,000 nurses, 663 general doctors, 808 dentists, 498 nursing tutors and 121 AYUSH doctors.
Kerala emerges as a service-led labour market
Kerala is strengthening its position as one of India’s most service-driven labour markets, with nearly half of its workforce now employed in the services sector…What makes Kerala stand out further is its balanced participation across both rural and urban areas. Services employ 40 per cent of the rural workforce and 58.6 per cent of the urban workforce. The study also highlights near-equal gender participation, with males accounting for 49. per cent of service jobs and females for 47.3 per cent. Unlike Karnataka and Telangana, where technology-led services dominate, Kerala’s services expansion is more labour-intensive and rooted in areas such as healthcare, trade, education and tourism.
Women in the Workforce
Karnataka readies legislation to provide menstrual leave, expands scope to include students and transpersons
In the first-ever such legislation proposed in the country, the Karnataka government has readied the Karnataka Women Wellbeing Leave Bill, 2025, which provides menstrual leave not only for working women in the formal sector but also for female students in educational institutions, transgenders, ASHAs, anganwadi, and midday meal personnel, and those working in mines.
The Gig Economy
Gig workers lack support despite growing service economy
The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers' Union released a study conducted by Class 9 city students who interviewed 60 delivery and service workers across platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Rapido and Urban Company. Their findings document frequent ID blocks, weak grievance systems and limited access to basic benefits — issues that, the report says, have become defining features of gig work, not the exceptions.
Exporting Workers
Saudi, migrants and FIFA 2034
PODCAST: South Asian migrants form the backbone of Saudi Arabia’s low-wage workforce as the kingdom prepares to host the 2034 men’s FIFA World Cup. But labour rights campaigners are warning of risks: dangerous working conditions, debt-laden recruitment, and forced labour.
Govt Vacancies
2.84 lakh govt jobs vacant, says CM Siddardamaiah
According to Siddaramaiah’s written reply to Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, the Department of School Education and Literacy has the highest number of vacancies at 79,694. "On one hand, thousands of job seekers are exceeding the age limit and on the other hand, the government is delaying recruitment. The future of eligible candidates is being jeopardised by the corrupt recruitment agency called the Karnataka Public Service Commission,” Yatnal said in a tweet.
Labour Reforms
Implementation of new labour codes likely by April 2026: Labour Minister
Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said draft rules under four new labour codes will be pre-published soon, with full implementation and social security coverage expected by April 2026. The minister said the draft rules for the same were pre-published earlier, but that was a long time ago, and now there is a need to bring the draft rules again in sync with the current times.
'New labour codes brought out by Centre without proper consultation with stakeholders'
CHENNAI: The four new labour codes brought out by the Centre was done without proper consultation with the stakeholders, R Geetha, adviser, Unorganised Workers Federation and President, National Federation of Unorganised and Migrant Worker said here on Wednesday. She noted that the new laws were introduced in violation of ILO (International Labour Organization) convention which mandated a tripartite consultation while drafting new laws, and were passed without any discussion in Parliament, when the Opposition members had staged a walk out.
New Labour Code 2025 brings big relief: Faster action on unpaid salary & workplace disputes
New Labour Codes 2025 bring significant changes. Offences punishable by fine only can now be compounded. This allows employers to pay a set amount, avoiding lengthy legal battles. Employees can receive unpaid dues faster. This reform aims for quicker dispute resolution and better compliance, balancing worker and growth needs.
In the Courts
Punjab & Haryana High Court Orders ₹5 Lakh Compensation To Retrenched Worker Denied Absorption For 30 Yrs Despite SC Order
The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed the State Government to pay ₹5 lakh as lump-sum compensation to a former Earth Work Mistri of the Anandpur Sahib Hydel Project (ASHP), whose plea for absorption in government service remained unaddressed for decades despite explicit judicial directions.
Supreme Court Orders 30% Women's Reservation In State Bar Councils; Allows Co-option In 10% Seats
In a significant order, the Supreme Court on Monday directed that 30% of the seats in the State Bar Councils - where elections are yet to be notified- must be represented by women advocates.For the present year, the Court ordered that 20% of the seats should be filled by way of election of women members, and 10% by co-option.
CJI Surya Kant Inaugurates Skill Development & Polytechnic Courses For Haryana Jail Inmates
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant inaugurated Skill Development Centres, Polytechnic diploma courses and ITI-level vocational programmes for inmates across various jails in Haryana on December 6. These initiatives have been launched under the project “Empowering Lives Behind Bars, Real Change: The New Paradigm of Correctional Justice.”
Migrant Tragedies
Jharkhand brothers, fellow chef from Nepal—migrant workers bear the brunt of Goa nightclub inferno
A nightclub fire in North Goa killed 25 people, predominantly migrant chefs, who largely suffocated in the basement kitchen. The tragedy, exemplified by Vikas Munda losing his brother Mohit, highlights severe safety failures. Goa's CM ordered disciplinary action against responsible officials and club management, offering compensation and arranging body transport, as police arrested several employees.
Labour in Parliament
Supriya Sule introduces Right to Disconnect Bill in LS to promote work-life balance for Indians
Supriya Sule introduced "The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025" in Lok Sabha to promote work-life balance and reduce employee burnout in India. The Bill allows employees to disconnect from work-related electronic communications outside working hours, with provisions for sanctions against non-compliant entities. It aims to address issues like 'telepressure' and 'info-obesity' by respecting employees' personal time.
India’s Right to Disconnect Bill 2025 explained: Here’s why employees can now legally switch off like France, Italy, Portugal, and Australia
New bill in Parliament proposes 10-year jail terms for attacks on doctors and medical staff
A new private member’s bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha proposes prison terms of up to ten years, and heavy fines for anyone who assaults doctors or other healthcare workers, marking the strongest national attempt yet to address violence in hospitals. The draft law sets strict timelines for investigations, creates special courts, expands the definition of violence to include verbal abuse and obstruction of duty, and requires hospitals to implement extensive safety measures.
Over 8 crore job vacancies mobilised via NCS portal: Labour Minister
Minister for Labour and Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya, informed Parliament on Monday that 8.17 crore vacancies have been mobilised for all the jobseekers (including women, SC/ST and EWS) on the government's National Career Service (NCS) portal till this year.
Parliament Winter Session 2025: Job Security & Welfare of Tea Workers in Parliament
VIDEO: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya answered questions from MP Gaurav Gogoi during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. The discussion was about job security and welfare measures for tea garden workers in Assam. The minister explained what steps the government is taking to protect workers’ jobs and improve their living and working conditions.
Health Care Facilities for Women Workers | Winter Session 2025
VIDEO: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya answered questions from MP Shinde Praniti during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. The discussion focused on job security and welfare measures for tea garden workers in Assam. The minister explained what the government is doing to protect their jobs and improve their living and working conditions.
EPFO update: Govt to hike wage ceiling to Rs 30,000 for mandatory EPF contribution? Here’s what Labour Ministry says
The EPF wage threshold was last increased in 2014, moving from Rs 6,500 to Rs 15,000 per month. Since then, salaries in urban India have risen rapidly, but the EPF ceiling has remained unchanged — a gap worker unions and employee representative bodies say is hurting the workforce. The current limit, is outdated and excludes lakhs of workers from formal retirement benefits. The issue resurfaced in Parliament on Dec 1 bringing clarity, concerns and renewed expectations. Government sources and various reports indicate that EPFO may consider increasing the cap to Rs 25,000 in the upcoming Central Board of Trustees (CBT) meeting. If approved, it could be the biggest expansion in EPF coverage in over a decade.
8th Pay Commission set to benefit nearly 1.2 crore employees
The Centre has announced that more than one crore Central government employees and pensioners are expected to benefit from the upcoming 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC). The update was shared in the Lok Sabha, where the Ministry of Finance confirmed that 50.14 lakh serving employees and about 69 lakh pensioners fall under the commission’s scope.
Violence against Workers
Indigo ground staff face violence, chaos during mass flight delays and cancellation
Mumbai: When chaos swept through airports during IndiGo's mass flight delays and cancellations this week, it was the airline's ground staff who stood exposed on the front line. With no information on flight status, no backup, and hardly any crisis-management training, they faced hours of anger from stranded passengers, some of whom turned violent, slapping and manhandling the employees in employees in IndiGo uniform.
The ground staff IndiGo leadership abandoned: Inside the crisis nobody’s talking about
Two thousand flights cancelled. But nobody’s discussing the workers left alone to face the fury—or the HR failure that allowed it
Vehicles Burned, Workers Beaten: Hindu Vigilante Groups Attack Dehradun’s Traditional Carcass Collectors
In Dehradun district, those who collect and transport dead animals live in fear following attacks by Hindutva mobs. One vehicle was set on fire even after workers showed the mob official documents permitting them to transport the carcasses. Dalit and Muslim families engaged in these livelihoods say they are under attack, for the first time in generations, from vigilante groups, enabled by gaps in the state’s cow-progeny law.