Labour Demands
Beedi workers demand reduction of GST from 28% to 5%
The Karnataka Karavali Beedi Workers’ Union (KKBWU) and Beedi Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on Tuesday urged the Union government to reduce Goods and Services Tax (GST) on beedi from 28% to 5%, to sustain beedi production that continues to be source of livelihood for many women in Coastal Karnataka.
PUCL urges government to act on farmers' demands as leader's health declines in Punjab protests
Farmers in Punjab have been protesting for over 10 months, seeking debt waivers and minimum support prices. A farmer leader, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, is in critical condition after a 28-day hunger strike.
Dying at Work
NHRC slaps notice on govt over electrocution of 2 Tangedco workers
CHENNAI: The NHRC on Monday said it has issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government and the state's police chief over reports that two persons, working as contract labourers with the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation were electrocuted while repairing a high-tension overhead power line in Tiruchy . The National Human Rights Commission in a statement said it has also noted that such incidents have occurred earlier too in the state
Caste in Employment
Dalit Professor Faces Exclusion at IIM Bangalore: How Dalits are Shut Out from Equal Opportunities at IIMs
One of the most notable examples of Dalit exclusion is the experience of Dr. Gopal Das, a Dalit professor at IIM Bangalore. His account of marginalisation highlights the systemic barriers faced by Dalits in India’s top educational institutions. In a report published on December 22, 2024, Dr. Das described how, despite his academic expertise, he was consistently sidelined, excluded from key classroom discussions, and offered little support from colleagues. His ideas were frequently dismissed, and his presence often ignored, illustrating a deeply entrenched culture of caste-based discrimination.
Employment News
Job creation slows in unincorporated sector in 2023-24: NSO report
This is according to the latest factsheet titled 'Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE)' released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Tuesday
Net formal jobs under EPFO down to five-month low of 1.34 million in October
Net formal job creation under EPFO fell to a five-month low of 1.34 million in October, marking an 11.8% dip compared to the previous year. The decline persists despite the festive season, highlighting a 28.7% month-on-month decrease. Young first-time job seekers form 40.5% of the new additions.
Startups created 1.6 million jobs: DPIIT
Startups have generated over 1.6 million jobs across India, with the DPIIT recognising 1.57 lakh startups by December 25. The country boasts more than 73,000 startups with at least one woman director. India's vibrant ecosystem, driven by affordable internet and a young workforce, has produced over 100 unicorns and influenced global innovation.
In the Courts
Government must not ape private sector’s insecure gig work conditions: SC judgment
Court orders immediate regularisation of cleaning and gardening staff employed at the Central Water Commission.
Women in the Workforce
Underpaid cooks subsidise midday meals by 7400 cr a year
The world's largest school feeding programme is in effect subsidised by the underpaid labour of over 25 lakh school midday meal cooks, over 90% of them women. The PM-POSHAN Shakti Nirman programme is subsidised to the tune of about Rs 7,400 crore through underpaid labour who are paid substantially less than the national floor minimum wage.
VIDEO:Tamil Nadu leaves 30,000 sanitation workers in the lurch without salaries for over six months
Over 30,000 sanitary workers who clean toilets in government schools in rural areas across the state have not been paid salary for more than six months in this academic year allegedly because the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj stopped releasing funds. According to sources, many school headmasters and teachers give them money by spending from their pockets.
In Uttar Pradesh, 3 Elderly Women Workers Share A Lifetime Of Struggle, Unable To Access Govt Social Security Schemes
Jagwati, Bilkis Bano and Omwati Saini, worn, illiterate elderly daily wage labourers in an Uttar Pradesh (UP) nursery, are paid less than men and do not have the documentation needed to access government social-security schemes meant to protect them. They are a microcosm of thousands of women who increasingly seek work, and, in their case, despite their age and medical problems, have no option but to keep working. A 2023 UP government survey noted ‘most’ women in the unorganised sector were ‘underpaid or not getting even the prescribed minimum wage’.
Women in auto sector grapple with low wages, surging finger injuries
The severity of injuries among women in India’s auto sector has been rising steadily from 2019 to 2024, according to the latest report by the Safe in India Foundation (SIIF), released last Friday. Titled ‘Crushed,’ the report marks the sixth annual study on the condition of workers in the sector. It reveals a surge in crush injuries (losing fingers at work) among women, with cases increasing from 19 in 2019 to 321 in 2024. Other types of injuries have also seen a sharp rise, growing from 8 to 126 over the same period.
News from States
Gujarat govt accelerates Shramik Basera Yojana for workers
A major step enhancing the livability of construction labourers in Gujarat was announced by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who has initiated the construction of temporary accommodations under the Shramik Basera Yojana at a faster pace.
The scheme provides low cost and neat rentable houses for the construction labour and their families who are members in the registered societies. 17 sites identified under Gujarat Shramik Basera Yojana.
In Kerala, pocketing pension meant for the poor
The outflow of funds for social support schemes needs to be monitored closely Towards the end of November, the State Finance Department published a list of 1,458 government employees, which included gazetted officers, assistant professors, and higher secondary teachers, who were drawing social security pension despite not qualifying for it. The list sparked outrage as the monthly payment of ₹1,600 per person is meant for the disadvantaged sections of society.
Government of West Bengal Revises Minimum Wage Rates for Scheduled Employments (2025)
The Government of West Bengal has issued a notification on December 4th 2024 , revising the minimum wage rates for scheduled employments in the state, effective from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. The revised rates will apply to thirty scheduled employments across various industries, with implementation across two zones in the state.
Jharkhand hikes dearness allowance of employees by 3 pc
The Jharkhand government has raised the dearness allowance for its employees to 53 percent of basic pay from 50 percent, effective from July 1. Pensioners will also receive a 3 percent increase in dearness relief. This move benefits over three lakh employees and pensioners. The state cabinet approved this and nine other proposals, including funding for a new university.
Exporting Workers
Stranded Indian workers in Libya: New Delhi says working to secure their release
The workers, lured to Libya with promises of lucrative jobs at a cement factory in Benghazi, are under dire conditions, facing challenges related to lack of proper documentation and exploitation by fake recruitment agencies. They arrived in Libya via Dubai four months ago under tourist visas, facilitated by a Libyan national named Abu Bakkar. Upon reaching the cement factory in Benghazi, they discovered the reality of long working hours, unpaid wages, and deteriorating living conditions.
Away from home: On the plight of the Indian worker
The story of 16 Indian workers allegedly deceived into working under inhumane conditions in Libya highlights the persistent issue of labour exploitation faced by millions of Indians abroad...This incident is far from isolated. In June, a fire at a labour camp in Mangaf, Kuwait, claimed the lives of at least 40 Indians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Kuwait has brought attention to the plight of Indian workers, particularly those in labour camps. Despite Mr. Modi’s acknowledgment of Kuwait’s support for its over one-million-strong Indian community, the dangers faced by Indian workers remain a concern.
IT Workers
IT sector's employee productivity on the rise even as firms apply brakes on hiring
India's top listed IT companies reported a sharp rise in worker productivity as measured by revenue per employee in the last two years after they put brakes on fresh hiring and rationalised their staff base. The country's 10 biggest listed IT companies that are part of the Nifty IT index had net sales of an average of ₹42.3 lakh per employee in FY24, up 9.2 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) from ₹38.7 lakh in FY23 and a four-year low of ₹34.9 lakh in FY22. This grew further to ₹43.3 lakh per employee in H1FY25 on an annualised basis.
Bonded Labour
39 rescued labourers get rs 86 lakh solatium
In a first, the Maharashtra government has released a compensation of ₹86 lakh to 39 people rescued from bonded labour in Ahilya Nagar (previously Ahmednagar) in 2023. Among those rescued are 14 children.
Taking suo motu cognisance of The Hindu report titled, ‘Survivors of bonded labour in Maharashtra: unshackled, yet the scars run deep’ and a couple of other reports on the survivors of bonded labour, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) directed the State government to release compensation for the survivors under the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer (CSSRBL).
Providing Jobs
‘Almost 10 lakh permanent govt jobs given in 1.5 years’: PM Modi hails Centre’s ‘record-breaking’ employment run at Rozgar Mela
Rozgar Mela: PM Modi virtually distributed appointment letters to 71,000 youths from across the country, inducting them into multiple government organisations and departments.
Exploited Workers
Chinese workers found in 'slavery-like conditions' at BYD construction site in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO---Brazilian officials found 163 Chinese nationals working in "slavery-like conditions" at a construction site for a factory owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD in Brazil's Bahia state, the local labor prosecutor's office said on Monday.
Corporates claim employees are their greatest asset but don’t treat them fair, must pay bottom 60% staff better: Mohandas Pai
Mohandas Pai criticizes stagnant wages for entry-level IT workers, highlighting a mere 15% increase since 2011 despite significant CEO compensation growth. He emphasizes the need for fair wages, especially for the bottom 60% of earners, advocating for higher minimum wages and a reevaluation of compensation policies to address the widening pay gap.
Mobilising Workers
How Workplace Injuries Spurred The Holiday Strike Against Amazon
Thousands of warehouse and delivery workers are participating in the largest strike against Amazon in U.S. history. Strikers at several facilities aim to bring attention to unfair labor practices (ULPs), such as Amazon’s industry-leading injury rates, and force the E-commerce giant to come to the bargaining table.