Employment News
Labour shortage hits Tiruppur apparel units as migrant workers who went home to vote not willing to return
Tiruppur, known as the 'knitwear capital' of India, is facing a labor shortage as thousands of migrant workers, who returned to their hometowns to vote in the recent Lok Sabha elections, are hesitant to come back. This crisis arises just as export inquiries from the US are beginning to show signs of improvement. Approximately 100,000-150,000 workers, primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal, are believed to be missing from the workforce.
Aadhaar-link hurdle renders 30 per cent of 25 crore MGNREGA workers jobless
A report, 'Unpacking MGNREGA', released by LibTech India, a private research group, says workers became ineligible because they did not comply with the government's directive of fulfilling the Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS)
Policy Changes
Centre tasks group of secretaries with reviewing Agnipath Scheme; eyes making recruitment more attractive
The NDA government has tasked a group of secretaries from 10 key ministries to review the Agnipath scheme and suggest ways to make the armed forces recruitment programme more attractive, underscoring the urgency with which the Centre wants to address any lacunae after it became a key election issue. Those selected under the scheme are called Agniveers.
Labour Codes: Secy to meet officials to take stock of State Rules
As the BJP-led NDA government gears up to firm up the road map for implementing the four labour codes, labour secretary Sumita Dawra will chair a meeting of labour secretaries and labour commissioners of all states on June 20 to take stock of the state rules and suggest changes if they do not meet the benchmark of model rules framed by the Centre.
Farm News
Modi shows rural bent, oks 20k crore for PM Kisan Nidhi
The Prime Minister approved the 17th instalment of the PM Kisan Nidhi Scheme, benefiting 93 million farmers with around ₹20,000 crore. This move is seen as a boost to rural demand and consumer stocks. The new coalition government is expected to focus more on rural welfare, signaling a shift towards consumption-focused policies. Rural markets have shown growth, outpacing urban markets for the first time in five quarters, indicating a positive trend for the FMCG sector.
Rajasthan CM announces ₹2,000 hike in Kisan Samman Nidhi assistance to farmers after BJP’s dismal performance in LS poll
After the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) dismal performance in the Lok Sabha election in Rajasthan, the State government on Saturday announced an increase in the annual honorarium paid to farmers under the Union government’s Kisan Samman Nidhi. With the BJP-ruled State government now contributing ₹2,000, the amount given to each farm household has been enhanced from ₹6,000 to ₹8,000 per year.
Women in the Workforce
Naga women street vendors: Making their space in the world
A new breed of businesswomen has come up in Nagaland: The vegetable street vendors. They grow seasonal vegetables in their kitchen gardens, harvest the daily produce, carry it to the closest marketplace in a town or city, spend the day at the same spot in the market each day, and try to sell the produce.
As Delhi reels under heat Anganwadi workers ask, “why can’t we get vacations?”
In a first, the Women and Child Welfare Department in Delhi issued an order on Monday for all Anganwadi centres to remain shut until June 30, citing heat wave conditions. Even though meals are not being served at the centres, workers have to go door to door to deliver packaged dry rations. In an Anganwadi hub in Okhla, three workers and helpers cover one block. Smaller blocks have one worker and a helper each. With the centres shutting down, they try to finish supplying the packages by 11 am.
Decline of 9-5 grind: Rise in number of women employees opting for gig work
The number of female consultants in India registering for freelance positions has surged by over 300 per cent in FY24 over FY22 according to data from gig platform Flexing It. The report further said that the number of men opting for white-collar gigs rose by over 225 per cent during the same period.
News from States
We’re providing security to migrant workers: Manipur CM
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said his government was providing security to around 4,000 migrant labourers working at various construction sites in the State.
Layoffs and Hirings
US hiring surges past expectations as job market still strong
In May, US job growth exceeded expectations, with 2,72,000 new jobs added, pushing the unemployment rate up slightly to 4.0%. Despite the rise, it remains low compared to recent years. Analysts predict the strong labor market may delay federal reserve interest rate cuts, as sectors like healthcare and hospitality continue to see growth, and wage increases persist. .
Microsoft job cuts: Company may have laid off 1000 jobs in these two units
Microsoft is laying off more than 1,000 employees across different businesses, including job cuts at the Azure cloud and mixed reality divisions.
Research
Two Hundred and Fifty-Thousand Democracies: A Review of Village Government in India
In 1992, the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution created 250,000 village democracies (called Gram Panchayats) covering 800 million citizens. It mandated regular elections, deliberative spaces, and political reservations for women and disadvantaged castes. The unprecedented variation in democratic experience that emerged from this has resulted in a large body of research that provides insights into the intersection between democracy, governance, and development. This paper distils key findings from this research.
Tailpiece
Treat transgenders as special category for employment, education irrespective of their caste: Madras HC
The transgender at no point of time in future shall be brought under male or female categories, the judge made it clear
Migrant Tragedies
Kuwait fire deaths: Congress leaders question "appalling living conditions of workers."
Kuwait fire: Congress leaders question ‘appalling’ living conditions of workers “The condition of our workers in the Middle East is a serious matter of concern. The Government of India, working alongside its counterparts, must prioritise the safety of our citizens and ensure dignified living standards,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X
Grieving the Loss of Sher Singh: A Sanitation Warrior
We extend our condolences to the family of Sher Singh who passed away today after battling for life for the last 5 years. In May 2019, Sher Singh was exposed to poisonous gases while cleaning a septic tank in Bhagya Vihar, Delhi. Two workers died on the spot while cleaning the septic tank and Sher Singh had been in a critical condition ever since. Sher Singh was a migrant worker, coming from Tundla (UP) and belonged to the Dalit community.
Analysis
Elite mindset is not going to solve jobs issue
One reason why we have such a massive problem with good jobs is because our economic thinking is still very elitist. Affluent India, our media, and policymakers are obsessed with catching up with the US and China in GDP terms without care for other indicators of broad-based well-being.
Despair over Jobs
Day after NEET results, MP girl ends life; 10th in Kota this year
An 18-year-old NEET aspirant from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, tragically took her own life in Kota on Wednesday, just a day after the exam results were released. Bagisha Tiwari's death marks the 10th reported suicide of a coaching student in Kota since the beginning of this year.
Skilling
Boeing's urgent mission: Training thousands of rookie workers to safely build an airplane.
An exodus of seasoned workers contributed to quality issues prompting the jet maker to overhaul how it trains new hires.
Child Labour News
15 kids rescued in anti-child labour campaign: Noida Police
NOIDA--Fifteen children who were engaged in works at eateries, furniture shops, hotels etc were rescued in Noida on Thursday in a child labour eradication campaign, police said. The campaign was led by the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the police department in coordination with NGOs Sahyog (Care For You) and Young India, according to an official statement.
Labour Reforms
Implementing labour reforms may prove tricky for new coalition govt
While the four labour codes have already been passed by parliament, implementing them could prove tricky for the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi say experts. They feel that the government may face opposition from various stakeholders, including a few state governments. “Passing contentious reforms could prove more difficult, particularly around land and labour. These have recently been flagged as priorities by the BJP to boost India’s manufacturing competitiveness,” Jeremy Zook, director and primary sovereign analyst for India at Fitch Ratings said.
Working Conditions
'Work is work': NCR factory workers forge through heatwave furnace
“Kaam toh kaam hai” (work is work), said Shivakant Kumar, a factory worker in one of the tin-roofed plants in Faridabad, enduring the intense heat. The heat from the machines was hitting his face, yet he persisted in making plastic decorative items. Some factory owners, in an attempt to counter the heat, have installed fans for each worker, but this measure appears insufficient against the heat radiating from the machines.
Amazon warehouse workers complain of harsh conditions
Amazon workers in India endure extreme heat, lack of breaks, and safety concerns. They demand better conditions as temperatures reach 50°C.
Wage Revision
Ikea lost $5,000 when each worker quit. So it began paying more
Ikea’s workers were quitting in droves in the US. In the UK and Ireland, half of all new hires were leaving before their first anniversary. Globally, each departure cost Ikea $5,000 or more to replace.