Policy Changes
Budget 2025: Govt plans NPS reforms to boost pension cover for gig workers
The government may hike the minimum pension amount under Atal Pension Yojana in the upcoming Union Budget to attract informal sector workers.
Gig workers set to get social security benefit
NEW DELHI: The Centre is readying the launch of social security contributions by gig workers. The platforms will be asked to deduct a certain percentage of the payment they make to these these workers and deposit it with the Employees' Pension Scheme. Govt may also top it up with a 3-4% contribution of the deposit made by the platform.
Employees can now update details themselves on EPFO site
Employees will no longer need their employers’ approval to update/edit personal details, such as address, marital status, tenure-related information, etc
In the Courts
High Court directs CAG to audit construction workers welfare fund
Observing that the amount from the Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare (KBOCWW) Fund is being used for non-welfare-related activities, besides being used for administrative purposes in excess of the permissible limit, the High Court of Karnataka has directed the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) to audit the fund and submit a report to the court within three months.
Gratuity A Legal Right Not Bounty: Rajasthan HC Slaps ₹25K Fine On Engineering Institute For Frivolous Litigation Against Deceased Employee
The Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court came down heavily upon the Jodhpur Institute of Engineering and Technology for indulging in “frivolous and obstructive litigation” against its deceased employee and his wife in the matter of payment of gratuity ruling that it was not a bounty but a statutory right.
Eradicating Stigma: Landmark Judgment on Manual Scavenging, Justice for Dalits
A judgment in the Madras High Court on December 17, 2024. Upholding dignity, attempting, again, to end manual scavenging, and restoring justice for the most marginalised.
Women in the Workforce
Indian women own 55% manufacturing units. What they need are smartphones & training
The increase in the proportion of female-owned manufacturing enterprises has led to increased employment of female workers in manufacturing, which is a welcome development. However, there is a concern. A typical female-owned informal manufacturing unit is about half the size of a male-owned unit, and the gross value added (GVA) per worker is about one-third. The implication is that the increase in the proportion of female-owned units may lead to productivity loss.
Indian women migrant workers in West Asia set to increase more than 71% in coming years: Report
Indian women migrant workers in West Asia are projected to grow by 71% in the next 2-3 years, driven by opportunities in hospitality, construction, healthcare, and technology. The workforce is expected to reach 6 million by 2027, supported by gender diversity initiatives in UAE and Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia. The trend underscores a significant evolution in the region’s workforce as Indian women increasingly pursue roles in high-growth industries.
Endangered Workers
Burrow tragedy: On the coal mining tragedy in Assam’s Dima Hasao
With four deaths so far, the coal mining tragedy in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has revived a long-standing debate on the hazardous nature of rat-hole coal mining in India. The Supreme Court of India, in 2019, had asked whether it was possible for such mining to continue without the “connivance” of officials, when it was examining the rescue of 15 miners trapped in a rat-hole mine in the East Jaintia Hills in December 2018. India must learn from its mining disasters and enforce regulations.
Employment News
Maha Kumbh expects to generate 12 lakh gig jobs across sectors
The ongoing Maha Kumbh, running from January 13 to February 26, is predicted to generate 12 lakh gig and temporary jobs across multiple sectors. The Uttar Pradesh government expects to host 400 million devotees, spurring economic growth in industries such as tourism, hospitality, transportation, logistics, healthcare, IT, and retail.
81% companies back PM's internship scheme: Teamlease Edtech survey
With the Centre mulling extending the ambit of the Prime Minister internship scheme -- whose pilot project was rolled out recently -- a survey has found that an impressive 81 per cent firms backed the government initiative, but over 70 per cent of them were willing to absorb 10 per cent of their interns as full-time employees.
Three tea gardens closed since 2023 with around 3,800 workers reopen in Alipurduar
Three closed tea estates with around 3,800 workers in Alipurduar district reopened on Monday, a day before chief minister Mamata Banerjee's scheduled arrival here. While a new company took over the operations at Kalchini and Raimatang, another firm acquired the lease of Toorsa. All the three gardens in the Kalchini block had been closed since 2023. Separate firms had operated the three plantations. The Bengal government had recently issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) which said if a tea garden remained closed for three months, the state could cancel the lease.
Benefits for Workers
States yet to use ₹70,744 cr. funds for welfare of construction workers
The Union Labour Ministry said in a Right to Information (RTI) reply that the welfare boards for building and other construction workers of various States have not yet used the cess worth ₹70,744.16 crore they collected from the employers for the welfare of the workers. Since the implementation of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act in 2005, the boards have collected ₹1,17,507.22 crore as cess from the employers and allocated ₹67,669.92 crore with the workers.
Reports
‘Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers’, International Migrants in the Labour Force, Fourth Edition
The report offers a thorough analysis of international migrants' participation in the global labour force. It examines labour force participation trends and presents a detailed overview of the critical role international migrant workers play in the global economy. The report addresses key challenges while providing regional estimates highlighting the diverse dynamics of labour migration.
What did the ILO report state about international migrants? | Explained
Why are there more male international migrants in the global labour force than women? Which are the countries that have absorbed the most international migrant workers? By addressing labour market shortages in host nations and contributing remittances to home countries, International Migrants (IM) continue to make contributions to world economic growth, the fourth edition of ‘Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers’, released by the International Labour Organization (ILO), said.
Skilling
India prepared for jobs of the future, but serious gaps in skills: What QS rankings say
QS Rankings India Jobs: India ranked 25th across all indicators, making the country a “future skills contender” according to the QS World Future Skills Index 2025. India has been ranked second in terms of preparedness for jobs of the future including artificial intelligence (AI) and green skills, only behind the United States, in the QS World Future Skills Index 2025. But in terms of economic transformation, India has been ranked 40th, and in terms of the workforce having the desired skills for future jobs, 37th, in the index.
Election Issues
Midway through campaign, AAP wakes up to issue of joblessness
AAP poll rallies highlight widespread complaints on lack of jobs; 2022 Rozgar Budget promising 20 lakh jobs was non-starter; job portal non-functional for last two years, no recent job fairs; AAP leaders blame turf war with L-G.
Media Workers
Chhattisgarh journalist murder: 3 officials suspended for corruption in road work
The semi-decomposed body of the 31-year-old journalist was recovered from a septic tank at a construction site in southern Chhattisgarh's Bijapur town on January 3.
Perilous Profession
The vulnerability of reporters at the grassroots in India’s more underdeveloped districts is on account of poor governance and corruption. The lack of laws puts the lives of grassroots reporters at risk
VIDEO: CG News: Mukesh Chandrakar की हत्या के बाद Chhattisgarh में फिर पत्रकार को मारने की धमकी!
Another journalist threatened by the police in Chhattisgarh.
Meagre Wages
Report on living wage finds ‘limited progress’ among garment and footwear companies
The Platform Living Wage Financials (PLWF) 2023-2024 Annual Report examined advancements in living wages and incomes in the apparel and footwear industry. Adidas, Asics, Esprit, Fast Retailing, H&M, Hugo Boss, Inditex, Kering, LVMH, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Primark, Puma, and Zalando were among the thirty-three businesses that were evaluated. The primary conclusion was that, despite the fact that numerous companies in this industry have pledged to participate in multistakeholder projects that target living wages, there is still little proof of their practical effects.
White Collar Stress
Fresh law graduates, from non-premier colleges in Bengaluru, stung by low wages
People often joke about how pursuing a legal case takes a lifetime. When it comes to a career after legal studies, students feel the same way now. Law students in Bengaluru, especially from non-premium law schools, are struggling with establishing secure careers, especially if they choose to go the litigation way.
90% young corporate workers suffer from anxiety: Report
A pan-India report on mental health in the workplace has revealed that 90 per cent of corporate employees under 25 experienced symptoms of anxiety in 2024. In contrast, 67 per cent of those above 45 showed similar symptoms. Furthermore, women exhibited higher levels of anxiety than men, with hormonal and societal factors contributing to disparity. The suicide risk among employees rose from 19 per cent in 2023 to 22 per cent in 2024, the report adds.