Caste in Employment
‘Forced to leave or die by suicide’: A roundtable on how caste discrimination plagues workplace
In June, IIM Bengaluru professor Gopal Das wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, accusing his colleagues of caste discrimination…Over the years, many from marginalised communities have reported alleged caste discrimination at educational institutes and workplaces. Newslaundry spoke to three senior officials of the country’s leading institutions about caste, merit and reservation.
Farm News
Minimum support price, loan waiver crucial issues for farmers
Budget Expectations: Farmers expect that this government make a radical break from all its earlier Budgets…unless that is done, the farmers’ unrest and agrarian crisis are not going to subside. The National Crime Records Bureau’s data tells us that 1,00,474 farmers and agricultural workers committed suicide between 2015 and 2022. This figure is growing and is a tragic indication of India’s agrarian crisis.
50K villages in 310 districts. Govt prepares plan for climate resilient farming
The initiative is part of a national programme on climate-resilient agriculture, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare plans to launch as part of a 100-day agenda. A proposal to this effect will likely to be approved by the Union Cabinet soon, said a source.
Land-linked IDs for farmers on the anvil, to ease delivery of sops
In a move to develop a database of farmers, the agriculture ministry has started work to build a digital registry in which more than 90 millions farmers will be provided with a unique ID which would be linked to the land records, Aadhar...the move to create farmers’ digital registry is part of the government’s digital agriculture mission, which would enable farmers to access benefits from a host of schemes.
Employment News
'Report fails to ... ': Centre slams Citigroup's dismal jobs forecast for India
The Government has responded to the Citigroup's forecast that India will struggle to create employment even at 7% growth rate saying that the report does not take into account all official data sources. such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and the Reserve Bank of India's KLEMS data.
For American brands worried about China, Is India the future?
The surge of multinational brands in India's manufacturing sector signals a shift towards diversification and job creation. Companies like Shree Krishna are fulfilling substantial orders for global retailers, highlighting India's growing importance in the global supply chain.
For American Brands Worried About China, Is India the Future?
As multinational retailers diminish their dependence on Chinese factories, some are shifting production to India. Sunlord, a manufacturer in India, has helped the American toy company Melissa & Doug diversify beyond China.
Tribal students get jobs in Indian and international companies
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday, July 6, distributed appointment orders to 146 students from the Scheduled Tribes, who underwent training in skill development. They were trained by the Nettur Technical Training Foundation. An official release said the students had been selected by various companies. They are from districts including Kallakurichi, Dharmapuri, Salem, and Tiruvannamalai.
Labour Demands
Samsung’s Chennai plant workers seek wage hike, better conditions
Hundreds of workers at Samsung India’s manufacturing plant in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, assembled outside the facility on Monday to demand the recognition of their newly-formed union, better wages and improved working conditions.
Samsung Workers Plan to Strike ‘Indefinitely’ in Risk to Global Tech
• Strike comes as Samsung fights to catch up in AI memory • Thousands rallied outside Samsung’s chip plants this week
In the Courts
‘Most Disturbing’, Supreme Court Says of Caste-Discrimination Sanctioned by Prison Manuals
Mumbai: In a significant development, a division bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud indicated it would direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to appoint a nodal officer to do away with caste-based discriminatory practices in India’s prisons. The court was hearing the public interest litigation filed by The Wire’s Sukanya Shantha, following her investigative work on the state-sanctioned caste-based discrimination and segregation in Indian prisons.
SC asks Centre to frame policy on menstrual leave for women
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to frame a model policy on menstrual leave for women employees by holding consultations with states and other stakeholders. “How will the leave encourage more women to be part of the workforce?” the court asked the petitioner, suggesting that mandating such leave could lead to women "being shunned from the workforce". The bench remarked, "We do not want that. This is actually a government policy aspect and not for the courts to look into."
If govt can provide maternity leave to adoptive mother, surrogate mothers also have right to avail it: Odisha HC
Supriya Jena became a mother through surrogacy, but she was denied 180 days maternity leave by her higher authority in the Odisha government.
Benefits for Workers
Budget 2024 Expectations: Under Atal Pension Yojana, Modi govt may double minimum guaranteed amount to Rs 10,000
Currently, the scheme offers a guaranteed minimum pension ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month, depending on the subscriber's contributions.
Pension scheme launched for unorganised workers in Chamarajanagar
The Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojana (PM-SYM) was formally launched in Chamarajanagar on Wednesday on the premises of the district court. The programme was jointly organised by the Department of Labour and the District Legal Services Authority. Under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhaan scheme, a minimum pension of ₹3,000 is assured to workers who are 60 years or older.
Profiles
Don’t complain, push yourself: for Bihar’s first trans SI, donning the uniform is a lifelong dream.
Madhu Kashyap is one of three trans people who qualified for SI exams conducted by Bihar’s Bihar Police Subordinate Selection Commission.
India's Labour Economy
Note ban, GST, Covid cost 11.3 lakh cr and 1.6 cr informal jobs
Noting that the sector was “severely impacted” by recent macroeconomic shocks, India Ratings’ principal economist Sunil Kumar Sinha estimated that 63 lakh informal enterprises shut down between 2015-16 and 2022-23, with about 1.6 crore jobs lost. “This period also coincided with the rise in the formalisation of the economy, which has led to robust tax collections. While formalisation of the economy is the way forward, the reduced unorganised sector footprint has implications for employment generation,” Mr. Sinha said.
Policy Changes
Forces seek to raise Agnipath age limit to 23, increase retention to 50%
The armed forces are expected to suggest to the government that the age ceiling for Agnipath inductees be raised to 23 and that at least 50% be retained after four years, as against the current 25 per cent, senior military officials aware of the matter have said. They say there is a need to raise the age limit by two years to allow graduates to apply.
Research
Jungle Mahal: Stoppage of MGNREGA work increases the poor’s dependence on forests, says study
The stoppage of MGNREGA work has increased the Jungle Mahal poor’s dependence on forest resources, resulting in a threat to their lives and to the woodlands in Bengal’s western districts, a study by a PhD scholar and his guide has revealed. 'Families are now entering the forests to collect resources at least 50 days oftener a year than they used to when the scheme was operational'.
Labour Rights
The workplace under Labour: employers braced for biggest shake-up in a generation
From ending zero-hour contracts to boosting benefits, Britain’s new government wants to shift power back to staff…Labour wants to redress the balance with sweeping reforms affecting every corner of the jobs market.
Workers set for £1,654 boost under new Labour Government
Millions of workers are in line for a boost to their wages under the new Labour Government. The party has set out plans to transform the minimum wage and provide an uplift for households across the country. Younger workers in particular are set to benefit from Labour's plans. It has said it intends to scrap minimum wage age bands for adults which are currently in place.
Notice period, ratings transparency: How Karnataka is trying to protect rights of gig workers
Unlike a similar Rajasthan legislation, where algorithmic transparency can be sought only by the state and the welfare board, the Karnataka bill seeks to empower gig workers to request access to information about work, ratings and personal data
Child Labour News
Mica mines now child labour-free, kids in Jharkhand's Koderma now go to school: NCPCR
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Priyank Kanoongo, while addressing a function in Koderma, said: 'Today as I declare that all children are free from exploitation in mica mines and are headed to schools, and not mines, I feel both overwhelmed and proud'.
Battles Won
Strike for salary hike called off, garbage lifted after four days
Noida: Sanitation workers returned to work on Friday as the strike was called off the night before, following an agreement on a salary hike with the Noida Authority. The workers, who were earlier offered a hike of Rs 800, were assured of a hike of Rs 1,500 by AG Enviro. Now, they would be paid Rs 14,700 in place of Rs 13,200.