News from States
Labour shortage plagues Gujarat's industries
With industrial development taking place in other Indian states, migrant labourers employed in Gujarat’s industries are increasingly moving back to their home states, causing a shortage of workforce here…Industry estimates indicate that at least 60% of skilled and unskilled labourers employed in industries of this state come from other Indian states.
Kerala labour dept to launch initiative to ensure skilled manpower in construction sector
In the initial stage, Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra (KESNIK) would provide training to 320 workers through its district offices. The project aims to increase productivity, reduce unnecessary spending and create a quality workforce in the sector.
Prevalence of bonded labour has reduced by 81.9% in Tamil Nadu: Report
The study on the Bonded Labour Act was carried out by ASK Training and Learning. It was released by T Raja former acting chief justice of the Madras high court. The release was facilitated by the Anti-Human Trafficking Club at Sathyabama School of Law in association with the International Justice Mission.
TN govt tweaks norms, asks hotels to provide drivers with dorms
The Tamil Nadu government has amended rules making it mandatory for hotels and lodges to provide dormitory and toilet facilities to vehicle drivers of guests. Space to move around the bed, one separate toilet and one separate bathroom for every eight beds have been mandated.
Employment News
India adds over 4 million jobs in a year; hotel and tourism industry lead
India added over 4 million jobs in one year driven by the hotel and tourism industry followed by some increase in the manufacturing sector, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy said. According to CMIE, the total workforce in India in May 2023 stood at 408 million compared to 403.9 million, an addition of around 4.1 million jobs in the last one year.
Weak rural labour market pushes India’s jobless rate above 8%
Unemployment historically soars in India’s villages in June as harvesting ends in May.
Demand for NREGS work up on subdued farm activities
Demand for work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) increased in June from a year before, a possible sign that an industrial recovery is yet to take firm roots. About 44.23 million individuals opted for work under the scheme in June, up 2.3% from a year before, according to preliminary data compiled by rural development ministry. The month-on-month rise, however, was about 3.8% in June.
CVs of Byju’s employees flood job market
The active count of jobseekers from Byju’s was in the 2,000-3,000 range a month ago which has grown 7x in volume over the last 30 days, Xpheno's workforce research head Prasadh MS said.
Shrinking of sarkari naukri: Why it's empty chairs in central govt jobs
Data from the Annual Report on Pay and Allowances of Central Government Regular Civilian Employees shows that almost 25 per cent central government posts were lying vacant in March 2022. Civilian posts in Defence had a 40.2 per cent vacancy rate, it was 20.5 per cent for Railways and 38.7 per cent for Posts. Revenue had not filled up 41.6 per cent of its sanctioned posts.
Women in the Workforce
Cities rope in women SHGs for sanitation services
In a bid to shore up sustainable sanitation solutions, many cities have roped in women-led self help groups (SHGs) and transgender groups for waste management services at the local level in urban areas under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The engagement of community-based organisations representing such vulnerable groups offers a cost-effective way to improve the coverage of sanitation solutions, besides helping the SHGs generate livelihood opportunities for its members
TN govt women employees denied seniority for availing maternity leave on probation
Despite the Madras HC ascertaining that maternity leave should be treated as duty period irrespective of whether or not the woman is on probation, many government offices count the leave period as an absence. Sailaja (name changed), a Deputy Tahsildar employed with Tamil Nadu’s Department of Revenue, availed maternity leave in 2020 for a period of nine months, after which she rejoined service. Two years later, to her surprise, she found that she was not considered for a promotion to the post of Tahsildar while her juniors were. Upon enquiring it was revealed that the department denied her seniority because she availed maternity leave during her probationary period of two years
State of the Economy. Why women's workforce has to fight for a normal hike and promotion
In this episode of the “State of the Economy” podcast, Nivedita V discusses the pressing issue of gender disparity in the Indian workforce with special guest and women’s rights activist, Dr. Valli Arunachalam, nuclear scientist, semiconductor technology consultant and scion of Murugappa Group.
Back to office isn't working well for women, attrition rates show
Maximum attrition seen in women in the 30-40 age group, experts say.
Taliban bans beauty salons in latest crackdown on women’s jobs in Afghanistan
The new ban by Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government means that working as nurses and doctors are now the only jobs for women in the country The restrictions are forcing women to secretly work from home as teachers and make-up artists.
In the Courts
Construction workers cannot be deprived of right to pension due to hyper-technical issues: Delhi HC
The observation came in a plea moved by a construction worker who had applied to the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for release of her pension as per Rule 372 of the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2002. A single-judge bench of Justice Prathiba Singh, in its May 29 order, noted that a “large number of construction workers are either illiterate or even semi-illiterate and hail from rural background”. They cannot be deprived of their right to pension because of requirements such as “production of original MR Slips or serial number of the notary records”,
Analysis
India cannot afford to let AI disrupt the labour market
Uncontrolled usage of AI across industries will result in massive job losses. This will not bode well for a labour surplus country like India
Data | How much employment generation does the economy need?
Economists associated with the government have been arguing that there is not much unemployment since enough employment is being generated. Further, they argue that the employment required to be generated annually is not too much. If policymakers talk of creating work for 5 million-8 million young in India, that will barely scratch India’s unemployment problem.
Child Labour News
443 cases booked against people for engaging child labour in Andhra Pradesh
Labour Department rescues 727 children, reunites many with parents; show-cause notices served on 143 establishments.
Rise of child labour stokes fight over worker laws
The number of kids employed illegally [in the US] has jumped 69% since 2018, data shows. Children aged 12 and older in the U.S. are legally permitted to work long days in tobacco fields outside of school hours in part because child labor laws are relatively lax in agriculture compared to other sectors. The labor shortage in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is causing some states to roll back child labor regulations. What are the implications?
CRY aims to free 553 villages from child labour in south India
Chennai: Child Rights and You (CRY), an organisation dedicated to protecting children's rights, has launched a determined effort to eradicate child labour in 553 villages across the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in child labour, according to CRY's field experience.