In the Courts
After 18 Years of Litigation, Karnataka HC Redirects Beedi Labour Dispute to Hubbali Industrial Tribunal
Women workers of the closed unit in Nippani, an important town near the Maharashtra and Karnataka border, are anguished at the decision after 18 years of futile litigation.
Constable’s lawsuit questions Delhi Police’s unreasonable, long working hours
The eight-year-old lawsuit states that it is not possible for any human being to be on duty for over 36 hours
Dalit employee death: Consistent attempts to tarnish image amount to abetting suicide, rules Karnataka HC
India's Labour Economy
Small towns getting big deal for jobs
India's job market is moving out of its metropolises and into its tier-2 and -3 cities. The middle class is growing at its most rapid pace in these towns, and both white and blue collar employment is tracking the associated rise in consumption.
News from States
UP: Survival at Stake, Meat, Liquor Ban Hits Livelihoods of Thousands in Ayodhya
Meat-sellers say 90% consumers are from the Hindu community, the CRPF and Army, and the decision on ban will hit not just Muslim shopkeepers, but traders and labour as well.
Jharkhand lowers pension age for tribals, Dalits to 50 years
The state currently provides a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to senior citizens and plans to reduce the age limit to benefit Adivasis and Dalits.
Employment News
Tech Companies Laid Off 4.25 Lakh Workers in the Last Two Years
The number of employees fired in India in this period is around 36,000. With the threat of generative AI looming over millions of jobs in the technology industry, tech companies globally are on a firing spree during the holiday season.
India Ranks High in Youth Unemployment
Kaushik Basu tweets: “Youth unemployment table below. This is not where India should be. The nation's youth deserves better. Low employment erodes human capital & long-run growth. We need policies to incentivize job creation. There is enough talent in the nation that, given the space, can do it.”
33% of India’s youth aren’t in employment, education, or training. Most of them are women
Over 50% of Indian women in 15-29 age group are neither employed nor studying, shows NSSO survey. Most aren’t seeking a job either. Expert points to ‘burden of care’, marriage factor.
Exporting Workers
UP, Bihar replace Kerala as top supplier of blue-collar workforce to Gulf nations
Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have begun replacing Kerala, which was a significant contributor of the blue-collar workforce, from India to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, a report by blue-collar worker placement platform Huntr said.
Violence against Workers
Mob Damages Muslim Shops In Haryana’s Panipat, Issues Threats Against Resuming Their Businesses
Mob Damages Muslim Shops In Haryana’s Panipat, Issues Threats Against Resuming Their Businesses
Labour Laws
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka among states set to ease labour laws to lure MNCs
Several multinationals like iPhone-maker Foxconn have placed pre-conditions before announcing new state investments.
State rules against basic ethos, spirit of labour codes, finds study
The rules framed by various states and union territories under the new labour codes have “too much” divergence according to a study by the VV Giri National Labour Institute.
India’s first Agniveers
First Agniveer batch to hold Passing Out Parade on March 28
The first batch of soldiers recruited under the Agnipath scheme will successfully complete its training with Passing Out Parade on March 28 at INS Chilka. Traditionally held in the morning hours, the first-of-its-kind POP for Agniveers will be held after sunset.
Contract Workers
State A Model Employer, Can't Use Contractual Appointments To Deny Workers Service Benefits: Himachal Pradesh High Court
Outsourcing govt. bus drivers and conductors through manpower agencies is a dangerous experiment: Madras HC
Justice R. Hemalatha quashes a tender notification issued by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai on September 30, 2023 for outsourcing drivers and conductors
Bihar Cabinet Gives Government Employee Status to 3.5 Lakh Contractual Teachers
These 'exclusive teachers' will have to pass competency exams to maintain their status as government employees.
Advent of AI
Blue-collar jobs may weather raging AI storm better: experts
Only 1% of blue-collar jobs were currently at risk of being automated by AI, according to HR services firm TeamLease Services. In addition, AI can enhance blue-collar workers’ productivity in ways that could improve their pay, and companies are already investing in such technology.
Indian employees caught in an AI conundrum
Microsoft's Work Trend Index 2023 found that while 74 per cent of Indian employees are worried about AI replacing their jobs, 83 per cent would delegate as much work to it as possible, to help lessen their workloads.