In the Courts
Govt Servants Required To Be At Disposal Of Govt All The Time; Can't Claim Overtime Allowance Under Factories Act : Supreme Court
The bench observed that government servants enjoy several special privileges which are not available to labourers covered under the Factories Act, such as periodic pay provisions. So, a claim by those in government servants for benefits under the Factories Act must be examined to see "whether it is an attempt to get the best of both the worlds"
News from States
Eye on Rajasthan polls, CM Gehlot reaches out to gig workers with welfare measures
Draft Bill proposes tough provisions against errant aggregators, including barring them from operating in the State
Delhi Govt wants gig workers to get social security benefits
The government is nudging platforms, such as Ola Uber, Zomato, Swiggy and Urban Company, to provide some social security benefits to gig workers, including life insurance and personal accident and health covers.
Delhi govt hikes minimum wages of workers in unorganised sector
According to the new rates, the monthly wage of skilled workers has been increased from Rs 20,357 to Rs 20,903, a hike of Rs 546. The monthly salary of semi-skilled workers has been increased by Rs 494 per month from Rs 18,499 to Rs 18,993. There will a monthly raise of Rs 442 in the minimum wages of unskilled workers, from Rs 16,792 to Rs 17,234.
Investment vs Labour Rights
Apple may double employee base in India to 200,000: Report
A report cited by PTI has revealed that Apple has generated 100,000 jobs in India. Interestingly, most of the roles (around 72 per cent) are being held by women workers in blue-collar positions. The report further highlights that the majority of these jobs have been created in the past 20 months, with many of the women workers being first-time entrants to the job market.
Apple partner Foxconn plans $700 million India plant in shift from China
Apple Inc partner Foxconn Technology Group plans to invest about $700 million on a new plant in India to ramp up local production.
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. Trade unions say most states, in trying to attract investments, have been diluting labour safety norms, leading to a situation where the number of fatalities has been increasing.
TN Assembly passes Bill extending daily work hours from 8 to 12 for factory workers
TN Assembly passes Bill extending daily work hours from 8 to 12 for factory workers. The Factories (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill, 2023 was tabled on April 12, and faced severe criticism from many quarters.
TN CM M K Stalin puts on hold factories bill on flexible working hours
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Monday announced that further action on the Factories (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to provide flexible working hours in factories rather than the existing eight-hour workday, has been put on hold. The move comes in the wake of political parties and labour unions threatening a series of agitations. The bill would not be sent to governor R N Ravi for assent.
Express View on Tamil Nadu labour laws: Be mindful of workers’ concerns
Governments would do well to engage in conversations with all stakeholders as they seek to balance the interests of both capital and labour. Fears of workers need to be assuaged.
Tailpiece
Maruti Suzuki Workers Get to Tell Their Story at Last
A new book on events from a decade ago at the Manesar factory of the carmaker highlights workers’ tenacious struggle for justice and rights—and the rest of India’s neglect of both.
Battles Won
German government, unions reach pay deal for public workers
BERLIN — German government officials and labor unions have reached a pay deal for more than 2.5 million public-sector workers, ending a lengthy dispute and heading off the possibility of disruptive all-out strikes. The deal entails tax-free one-time payments totaling 3,000 euros ($3,300) per employee, with the first 1,240 euros coming in June and monthly payments of 220 euros following until February.
Pending Wages
UP: Rs 313 Cr MGNREGA Wages Pending, Workers Not Paid Since January
Azamgarh has the largest pending payments of Rs 10.16 crore, followed by Sitapur with Rs 8.07 crore, Sonbhadra with Rs 6.08 crore, Jaunpur with Rs 5.18 crore and Lakhimpur with Rs 3.85 crore.
UP: Nearly 1,75 Lakh ASHA Workers Not Paid Honorarium for Past 3 Months Despite Govt's Assurance
Lucknow: Accredited Social Health Activists, or ASHA workers, who are a crucial link in providing public access to rural healthcare across the state, have not received their monthly stipend for the last four months, which, they say, has pushed them to the brink of starvation.
Haryana: Mid-Day Meal Workers Haven't Been Paid Honorarium for Months
More than 29,000 mid-day meal workers in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Haryana have not been paid their meagre honorarium for several months now. Many of these workers are widowed women, whose families are dependent on this money.This sort of delay in honorarium payment is not uncommon.
Worker Welfare
Companies try hard to shield delivery workers from heat
Ecommerce companies, at higher risk than others from the extreme weather affecting delivery executives, said they are rolling out support mechanisms including resting areas, doctor-on-call, energy drinks, ORS, and even clothing from breathable fabric, better suited to the harsh weather conditions. Several delivery executives that ET spoke to said they were suffering from exhaustion and dehydration, and it was tough to get through the day under these brutal heatwave conditions.
White Collar Stress
The HR ailment of public sector banks
Incidents of suicides highlight the prevailing work culture at PSBs. The stress public sector bankers go through is very different from what private bankers face. The number of clerical employees and subordinates in PSBs has plunged in the past decade, between 2010 and 2021, while the number of officers has witnessed a sharp spike.
Why are young doctors feeling burnt out?
Overwork, anxiety, lack of sleep, and an unhealthy lifestyle are taking a mental toll on resident medics
WorkersConnect Radio
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CEOs prosper despite layoffs
Whopping $226 million for Sundar Pichai while 12,000 employees laid off
In Alphabet’s recent filing, it was revealed that CEO Sundar Pichai earned almost $226 million in 2022, while Google laid off 12,000 employees globally and suspended several services, including free snacks and laptops.
The top earning CEO who told employees to leave pity city
Andi Owen, CEO of office furniture company MillerKnoll, was asked in a recent video town hall about how workers should stay motivated if they don't get a bonus. A CNN panel reacts to a clip of the video that sparked a backlash on social media.