Dying at Work
Jharkhand: A Dust Dilemma Leading Workers to a Slow Death due to Silicosis
In Jharkhand's ramming mass industry, workers mainly from the tribal belts or migrants sooner or later fall prey to silicosis and eventually succumb to it. The ramming mass factories use Quartzite stones, grind them into different-sized particles, and mix them with the other-sized particles to prepare 'ramming mass'. As the huge machine grinds the stone and brings a huge solid substance into a powder form, much dust containing sililcon dioxide is released.
In the Courts
US: Apple Engaged in 'Coercive' Interviews, Other Anti-Union Tactics at NY Store, Judge Rules
Lauren Esposito, the judge in the case, found that an Apple Store supervisor at the World Trade Centre location had improperly asked an employee about his discussions with other workers about wage levels and about the employee's opinion of unionisation efforts across the company. Such activities ran afoul of US labour law that protects the right of workers to organise, the judge wrote.
Profiles
महिला के संघर्ष की कहानी|| The Story of a Mountain Woman’s Struggle- A CCA report
Champa is a resilient woman who resides in Naukuchiatal, Nainital district, Uttarakhand. Her husband is unwell, which has compelled her to engage in farming and work in households to support her family. Champa has always lived in the mountains and she says that life in the mountains is very challenging. Let’s explore Champa’s story.
News from States
Manipur plans 'no-work, no-pay' rule for staff not attending office
The Manipur government has planned to impose a "no-work, no-pay" rule for its employees who have been absent from work without authorized leave due to the ethnic violence in the state since May 3. The General Administration Department has asked the administrative secretaries for an elaboration of the details of employees who have not been able to attend official work due to the situation in the state.
Bihar withholds salary of over 1000 staffers for being absent
In a crackdown on “absenteeism” in universities, the Department of Education in Bihar has withheld the salaries of over 1,000 teachers and non-teaching staffers for not reporting to work. The action was taken after the education department’s additional chief secretary K K Pathak sought details of attendance of teachers and non-teaching staffers in universities of Bihar.
Pending applications, stigma: Central scheme to help manual scavengers find other jobs stuck in quagmire in UP
UP reported the highest number of manual scavengers in two surveys. Finding another job seems like a lost battle to many of them.
Tamil Nadu Rescued Bonded Labourers Hide in Fear of Ex-Employer
Twenty bonded labourers from the Irular tribal community rescued by the Chengalpattu district administration, in Tamil Nadu, on May 28 continue to live in fear of their former employer. A wood trader, Padur Balu, had employed 10 Irular women and 10 Irular men hailing from various districts. He gave an advance of Rs 15,000 per family and accommodated them in a forest godown in Thaiyur Balammal Nagar, in Thiruporur Block of Chengalpattu District. Four out of 10 women working as woodcutters were allegedly raped by their employer.
NHRC sends notice to Maharashtra over torture of 11 workers
Days after Maharashtra police rescued 11 labourers who were being held captive by a contractor in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the State Government over the issue. Commission demands submission of a report with details of investigation, action taken against persons arrested and steps proposed to ensure such crimes do not recur.
Tailpiece
DU Order Calling Staff to Work on Eid Termed ‘Insensitive’
Teachers associations criticised the Delhi University (DU) administration on Wednesday for asking them to report to work on Eid (Thursday) to complete the preparation for its centenary celebration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a joint gathering of teachers, employees and students on June 30. The teachers said that the notification on reporting to work on Eid undermines the country’s secular character.
Policy Changes
New deadline for Aadhaar-based rural jobs scheme wages
This is the fourth extension since the State governments have reported several issues in reconciling the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme job card details with the Aadhaar database
Construction workers may get pan-India card, pension
Under the Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996, state governments through their state welfare boards are mandated to frame and implement schemes for safety, health and welfare of construction workers. Currently, different states have different eligibility conditions for availing benefits under the BOCW scheme, making it virtually impossible for migrant workers in the construction sector to enrol under the scheme.
Providing Jobs
Bihar: Government To Remove Domicile Policy For Teachers' Jobs
Speaking on the revisions in the teachers recruitment norms, student union leader Dilip Kumar said that this is a very wrong decision by the Bihar government, and we, the candidates of Bihar feel that we have been deprived of our rights.
Media Workers
Online abuse, death threats: Telugu journalist Thulasi Chandu says she ‘will be killed one day’
Constant harassment and hate-spewing have led a Hyderabad-based woman journalist to say she is likely to be killed soon. Targeted by right-wing forces for her work, she says her ordeal began three years ago. In a long, emotional post on Facebook on June 24, independent journalist Thulasi Chandu said she was being “hated and abused for telling people that communal hatred is harmful for the youth of any country”.
‘It all happened so abruptly’: Sansad TV ends services of 19 ad hoc, freelance employees
Two notices were sent on an office WhatsApp group, effectively ending their services overnight. Curiously, this comes five months after vice-president Jagdeep Dhankar allegedly said he was keen to change ad hoc arrangements at Sansad TV and make them full-time staffers. Almost all Sansad TV’s employees work on contract. The ad hoc professionals usually work on three-month contracts – it used to be six months, sometimes even a year, until Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV were merged into Sansad TV in March 2021.
Domestic Workers
Activists draw up their version of dream legislation for domestic workers
Job safety, minimum wages and pension are very important for domestic workers, says chairperson of Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women
Express View on RWAs and prejudice: Pettiness of power
Residents' Welfare Associations all too often reflect the worst prejudices of their members towards workers. The order said, "Residents can feel uncomfortable when being surrounded by maids everywhere we walk.” Apart from elitist and entitled upper-class discomfort at workers being “everywhere”, the notice cites the all-too-familiar bogey of “security” vis a vis the poor.
Undervalued Off Screen, Reduced to Caricatures on It, Domestic Workers Aren't Fodder for Humour
Members of the Sangrami Gharelu Kamgar Union speak on how portrayals of domestic workers on cinema and OTT shows are tailor made to fit the assumptions, sensibilities and emotional needs of upper and middle class viewers