Why India’s labour is rejecting a new deal
5 years, 2 months ago

Why India’s labour is rejecting a new deal

Live Mint  

Labour reform was a big promise that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in 2014. While the corporate sector will see wage hikes of nearly 10% this year, the agricultural labour market saw a drop in real wages for the first time in recent years. Social insurance schemes, minimum wage laws, trade unions, bonuses, wage increases, medical cover, unemployment allowances, pension schemes and provident funds covered almost all types of risks. Migrant labour, gig economy workers, taxi drivers and house helps are typically very vulnerable to shifts in economic growth and can lose jobs almost immediately as economic growth slows down. What needs to be understood is that an economy which shows increasing inequality, poor economic growth and an underperforming education sector must relentlessly innovate on its large cash transfer programmes, on the public distribution system, on schemes like MGNREGS and on new ideas like negative income taxes.

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History of this topic

ILO chief lauds India’s social security network
3 weeks, 6 days ago

ILO chief lauds India’s social security network

The Hindu  

Citing the “World Social Protection Report 2024-26”, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Gilbert F. Houngbo, said that the proportion of India’s population covered under at least one branch of social protection has increased from 24% to 49%, almost doubling in a very short time. “This remarkable achievement reflects the strong partnership between India and the ILO and the decisive …

Labour to strengthen workers’ rights, women employee safety in focus: Economic Survey
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Labour to strengthen workers’ rights, women employee safety in focus: Economic Survey

Live Mint  

The Economic Survey 2024-25 on Friday highlights the significance of the four labour codes enacted by Parliament in strengthening workers' rights. These codes, namely the Code on Wages, 2019, the Code on Social Security, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020, will play a vital role in enhancing workers' rights. Among …

Centre likely to roll out labour codes by early next financial year
2 months ago

Centre likely to roll out labour codes by early next financial year

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi The Centre is likely to implement the long-pending labour codes by early next financial year even if one state fails to wrap up the process of framing draft rules, as nearly all states and Union territories are done with finalising these norms, a person aware of the development said. The four labour codes passed by Parliament during 2019-20 …

Labour codes part of neo-liberal project to perpetuate inequality, says economist
2 months, 1 week ago

Labour codes part of neo-liberal project to perpetuate inequality, says economist

The Hindu  

The four labour codes launched by the Union government are part of a neo-liberal project to transfer wealth and resources from one class of society to another, perpetuating inequality and private profiteering, economist R. Ramakumar has said. He was delivering the keynote address on the changing labour laws at an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Kerala Circle …

Labour reforms, social security for informal workers, transformative policies on cards in 2025
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Labour reforms, social security for informal workers, transformative policies on cards in 2025

Live Mint  

New Delhi, Dec 30 Speedy implementation of labour codes, providing social security to informal workers, especially gig and platform, and bringing transformative policies would be the government's priority in 2025 to empower all and boost the economy. The four labour codes on social security, industrial relations, wages, and Occupational Safety Health & Working Conditions were passed by Parliament. While provisions …

Quest for consistent social security across Indian states
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Quest for consistent social security across Indian states

Hindustan Times  

A wave of legislation aimed at regulating social security for gig and platform workers is sweeping through Indian states. While the CoSS 2020 clearly outlines social security benefits for workers, state regulations lack this specificity, creating uncertainty about the support they will provide. Without specified benefits, state laws could lead to avoidable delays, costly duplication, and ultimately, suboptimal social security …

Centre-states meet on Friday to fast-track labour codes
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Centre-states meet on Friday to fast-track labour codes

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: Union minister of state for labour, Shobha Karandlaje, will chair a consultative meeting on Friday with representatives of all southern states to quicken the implementation of the labour codes, an official said. Union minister of state for labour, Shobha Karandlaje with Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya This will be the first meeting to be chaired by a minister …

Govt to hold more talks with states on labour codes
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Govt to hold more talks with states on labour codes

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi Implementing the four labour codes passed by the Modi government in its previous term is a top priority but the process could take several months because many states lacked “a full understanding” of the gamut of reforms and their scope, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday. Govt to hold more talks with states on labour …

Unreserved, Yet Inaccessible: How Labour Laws Exclude Millions
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Unreserved, Yet Inaccessible: How Labour Laws Exclude Millions

News 18  

I was associated with an academic institute that has multiple centres in different parts of India. But this closure underscores a broader point: West Bengal’s labour laws and overall environment have been deterrents to investing in West Bengal. After all, their combined membership hovers around 25 million, a stark contrast to India’s total labour force of approximately 480 million. While …

What women need to participate in the changing world of work
2 years, 1 month ago

What women need to participate in the changing world of work

Hindustan Times  

The world of work is changing rapidly - technology, innovation, the climate crisis, and demographic shifts are some of the important drivers for the future of work. Thus, providing universal social protection, upskilling women, supporting their shift from informal to formal work and promoting entrepreneurship are essential to reduce their vulnerability and ensure decent working conditions. Tech-enabled emerging sectors that …

Hard truths about India’s labour reforms
2 years, 7 months ago

Hard truths about India’s labour reforms

The Hindu  

Independent India was born at the midnight hour on August 15, 1947, 75 years ago, when India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the country’s tricolour flag and announced to Parliament that India had made a “tryst with destiny”. Editorial | Death trap: On Labour reforms The dominant ‘theory-in-use’ to increase employment is to improve the ease of doing business, …

India at 75 | Timeline: Labour
2 years, 7 months ago

India at 75 | Timeline: Labour

The Hindu  

Published : Aug 15, 2022 18:00 IST Working-class movements in India predate Independence and played an important role in giving an impetus to the national movement. 1948: Postal and Telegraph workers give a strike notice for DA revision, confirmation of temporary employees, and sanction of strike period pay, among other things. 1960s 1960: Central government employees declare an indefinite strike …

Labour laws could be good for business in the country
3 years, 1 month ago

Labour laws could be good for business in the country

Live Mint  

Recent discontent in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar has been manifesting in a different kind of collective action: ‘job riots’. Consider, for instance, UP’s 2020 decision to suspend labour laws to reduce the burden on companies and attract investment; other states undertook similar actions—all to no avail. The government’s push for an Atmanirbhar Bharat, skill development and securing the future of …

Less take home salary, likely 4-day work week: India’s new labour laws may be implemented next fiscal year
3 years, 3 months ago

Less take home salary, likely 4-day work week: India’s new labour laws may be implemented next fiscal year

Live Mint  

The four labour codes on wages, social security, industrial relations and occupation safety, health and working conditions are likely to be implemented by the next financial year, news agency PTI reported citing a senior government official. The four codes, if implemented, will drastically alter the way industrial houses treat their employees and also impact the working hours, take home salary …

Labour on hit list for three decades
3 years, 6 months ago

Labour on hit list for three decades

The Hindu  

On June 30, President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the Essential Defence Services Ordinance, 2021, which empowers the Central government to prohibit strikes in essential defence services. Permanent employment was seen as counterproductive to workers’ productivity and establishments increasingly began moving towards short-term employment contracts even in permanent forms of work and outsourcing of work, including in government. On the government …

Govt seeks to mend fences with unions to roll out labour codes
3 years, 7 months ago

Govt seeks to mend fences with unions to roll out labour codes

Live Mint  

The government is looking to resume formal negotiations with trade unions to ensure the smooth roll-out of four labour codes and other related policy steps. A senior labour ministry official said Union labour minister Bhupendra Yadav held a “courtesy” meeting with a dozen central trade unions recently. “Today, several burning issues such as that of migrant workers, labour law reforms, …

The shaky foundation of the labour law reforms
3 years, 7 months ago

The shaky foundation of the labour law reforms

The Hindu  

The National Democratic Alliance government enacted the Code on Wages in August 2019 and the other three Codes, viz., the Industrial Relations Code, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code and Code on Social Security in September 2020. In the meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India has exerted pressure on both the central and the State governments to implement …

Labour regulations need both clarity and uniformity
4 years ago

Labour regulations need both clarity and uniformity

Live Mint  

Workers are often rightly identified as the lifeblood of any organization or industry. As these neo-industries take shape and help expand India’s economy, labour regulations must cater to their workers’ needs and be cognizant of emerging businesses and organizational models. Further, the law on standing orders adopted a very wide definition of ‘industrial establishments’ that is now being applied to …

Labour reforms are not to blame for the unrest at Wistron’s plant
4 years, 2 months ago

Labour reforms are not to blame for the unrest at Wistron’s plant

Live Mint  

The unfortunate events of 12 December at the Wistron plant near Bengaluru have re-opened an old and ongoing debate about India’s labour laws, both in terms of reforms of those laws and the enforcement of existing rules. As reported, he complains that under the aegis of the newly-reformed labour laws, firms are increasing work hours and resorting more to contract …

The fallout of keying in the wrong labour codes
4 years, 2 months ago

The fallout of keying in the wrong labour codes

The Hindu  

On December 12, contract workers ransacked Wistron’s iPhone assembly factory in Karnataka, at Narsapura in Kolar district, about 80 kilometres from Bengaluru. However, according to a preliminary inquiry report by the State labour department into the incident, Wistron and its labour contractors violated many provisions of the laws that led to the violence. India’s labour laws are indeed a cumbersome …

Worker, employer bodies seek changes to draft labour rules
4 years, 2 months ago

Worker, employer bodies seek changes to draft labour rules

The Hindu  

The majority of the Central trade unions on Thursday boycotted the Labour and Employment Ministry’s consultation on the draft rules for the four labour codes enacted by the government in 2019 and 2020, terming the exercise a “farce”. Ten out of the 12 Central trade unions declined to attend the meeting called by Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar. The letter …

Labour Rights And Ease Of Doing Business: Concurring The Calibrations
4 years, 4 months ago

Labour Rights And Ease Of Doing Business: Concurring The Calibrations

Live Law  

India jumped to 63rd rank by 14 points in 2019 in the Ease of Doing Business Score by World Bank and has been one of the few consistent risers in the said list. With each State offering various sops to woo establishment of businesses or even migration of established industries from other States to theirs and the bull's eye set …

New Labour Laws Brought by Centre are Not 'Reforms' but 'Regression', Says Aruna Roy
4 years, 5 months ago

New Labour Laws Brought by Centre are Not 'Reforms' but 'Regression', Says Aruna Roy

News 18  

Aruna Roy is one of those rare activists who has successfully straddled the multiple worlds of grassroots activism as well as policymaking. Question: The BJP-led NDA government has viewed its recently promulgated labour laws as part of its ‘reforms’ process that is aimed at simplifying legislation on labour, improving the ease of doing business, as well as protecting workers’ interest. …

By elevating labour rights to human rights, the SC opens a door, writes Gautam Bhatia
4 years, 5 months ago

By elevating labour rights to human rights, the SC opens a door, writes Gautam Bhatia

Hindustan Times  

The Covid-19 pandemic has created significant social and political upheaval. In the last few months, many state governments have moved to suspend basic labour laws that limit hours of work, guarantee basic safety and hygiene at the workplace, and protect workers from unjustified dismissal. In the monsoon session of Parliament, however, the central government itself pushed through new “labour codes” …

Centre Notifies Three Labour Codes [Read Notifications]
4 years, 5 months ago

Centre Notifies Three Labour Codes [Read Notifications]

Live Law  

The Central Government on Tuesday notified the three Labour Codes namely: Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 The Code on Social Security, 2020 The three codes are part of the four codes that consolidate 29 central labour laws. The Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 repeals as many as 13 central …

Govt aiming to implement all four labour codes in one go by December, says Santosh Gangwar
4 years, 5 months ago

Govt aiming to implement all four labour codes in one go by December, says Santosh Gangwar

Firstpost  

The labour ministry had circulated the draft rules on the Wage Code Bill last year but held back its finalisation and implementation New Delhi: The government is aiming to implement all the four labour codes in one go by December this year and complete the final stretch of labour sector reforms, Union minister Santosh Gangwar has said. The labour ministry …

Labour Code 2020: Overwhelming Majority of Workers Remain Vulnerable
4 years, 5 months ago

Labour Code 2020: Overwhelming Majority of Workers Remain Vulnerable

News 18  

The government has been at the receiving end this past week, from farmers as well as from workers in India’s vast informal sector. These broadly relate to workers’ right to strike and have pre-defined working hours, employers’ right to hire and fire and provision of social security benefits to gig workers, among others. An analysis by brokerage Edelweiss notes that …

The Hindu Explains | What does the new Industrial Relations Code say, and how does it affect the right to strike?
4 years, 5 months ago

The Hindu Explains | What does the new Industrial Relations Code say, and how does it affect the right to strike?

The Hindu  

The story so far: Three Codes on labour law were passed by Parliament this week, amid strident criticism and vociferous protests by many trade unions. Hailed by industry as a much-needed reform and rationalisation of labour laws, the Codes on industrial relations, social security, occupational safety, health and working conditions amalgamate and replace several diverse laws on the subject. Among …

Breaking down the new labour codes passed by Parliament | The Hindu In Focus podcast
4 years, 5 months ago

Breaking down the new labour codes passed by Parliament | The Hindu In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

Earlier this week, Parliament passed three new laws on social security, industrial relations and occupational safety that subsumed 25 Central labour laws. Along with the wage code that was passed in 2019 the NDA government has now merged 29 different labour laws into four codes and this is something that was badly needed because India’s labour laws are famously complicated …

New Labour Codes Have 'Weakened' Trade Unions, Removed 'Security Net' for Workers: Congress
4 years, 5 months ago

New Labour Codes Have 'Weakened' Trade Unions, Removed 'Security Net' for Workers: Congress

News 18  

New Delhi: Describing the three labour codes passed by Parliament as “anti-labour”, the Congress on Saturday attacked the government, alleging the legislations have “weakened” trade unions and removed the “security net” for workers. Parliament on Wednesday approved the three labour codes that will remove impediments to winding up of companies and allow firing of staff without government permission in firms …

Code debate: The Hindu Editorial on new labour codes
4 years, 5 months ago

Code debate: The Hindu Editorial on new labour codes

The Hindu  

Some laws are far too important and have far too much impact on the people to be passed in haste or without sufficient deliberation. The Industrial Relations Code, the Social Security Code and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, are an updated version of the respective Codes of 2019, which were scrutinised by a Standing Committee. The …

Parliament Clears Three Codes To Reform Indian Labour Laws [Read Bills]
4 years, 6 months ago

Parliament Clears Three Codes To Reform Indian Labour Laws [Read Bills]

Live Law  

The Rajya Sabha today passed three Labour codes namely: Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 The Code on Social Security, 2020 These Bills were introduced by Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar. Inter-state migrant workers and unorganized workers Inter-state migrant workers include a person who: has been recruited by an employer or contractor for …

Parliament Passes Three Key Labour Reform Bills amid Boycott by Opposition Parties
4 years, 6 months ago

Parliament Passes Three Key Labour Reform Bills amid Boycott by Opposition Parties

News 18  

Parliament on Wednesday approved three key labour reform bills that will remove impediments for winding up of companies and allow firing of staff without government permission in firms with up to 300 workers. Amid boycott by opposition parties including Congress and Left over suspension of eight MPs, Rajya Sabha passed by voice vote the three remaining labour codes on industrial …

Rajya Sabha approves three codes subsuming 25 central labour laws
4 years, 6 months ago

Rajya Sabha approves three codes subsuming 25 central labour laws

Live Mint  

NEW DELHI: New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday approved three labour codes subsuming 25 central labour laws, effecting a major reform that has been on the table for at least 17 years. The three codes on -- social security, industrial relations and occupational safety – already cleared by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, will now offer industries flexibility in …

Lok Sabha Passes Three Labour Codes for 'Healthy Environment to Workers' Amid Boycott by Opposition
4 years, 6 months ago

Lok Sabha Passes Three Labour Codes for 'Healthy Environment to Workers' Amid Boycott by Opposition

News 18  

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed three labour codes amid boycott of the House proceedings by several Opposition parties, including the Congress, in protest against the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha members. Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said the House is witnessing a historic day as these codes would provide salary security, social security and proper environment at workplaces to 50 …

Centre Introduces 3 Key Labour Codes in Lok Sabha, Says it Will Extend Social Security to All Workers
4 years, 6 months ago

Centre Introduces 3 Key Labour Codes in Lok Sabha, Says it Will Extend Social Security to All Workers

News 18  

Amid ruckus in the house on Saturday, the government introduced three labour legislations, including the Code on Industrial Relations, the Social Security Code and the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Condition in the Lok Sabha. “We have included 174 out of 233 or 74% of the recommendations of the standing committee on labour across three codes being introduced …

Construction workers concerned over move to repeal welfare act
4 years, 8 months ago

Construction workers concerned over move to repeal welfare act

The Hindu  

The Central Government’s proposed move to repeal 15 existing laws on social security, including the Building and Other Construction Workers Act 1996, and replace them with a single Labour Code on Social Security and Welfare, has led to much concern among construction workers. Kerala was the first State to set up a welfare board for construction workers in 1989, becoming …

A blueprint to protect labour rights without constraining capital | Opinion
4 years, 8 months ago

A blueprint to protect labour rights without constraining capital | Opinion

Hindustan Times  

Two defining moments in India’s long and harsh lockdown bring out the sharp contradictions in labour-capital relations in the economy. Every day of the lockdown brought with it images of workers, left with no incomes and social security, making their way home, hungry and tired, laying bare the realities of India’s fragile labour market. The growth-versus-labour rights binary is false …

BJP-ruled States yet to share details on changes to labour laws
4 years, 9 months ago

BJP-ruled States yet to share details on changes to labour laws

The Hindu  

More than a month after the Parliamentary Committee on Labour wrote to eight State governments seeking explanation on the changes brought to the labour laws during the extended lockdown, three BJP-ruled States — Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh — have not responded, despite two reminders from the Committee. When asked if this amounted to undermining the Parliamentary Standing Committee, …

Indian states' decision to suspend labour law amid COVID-19 crisis is delirious policy-making not backed by empirical analysis
4 years, 10 months ago

Indian states' decision to suspend labour law amid COVID-19 crisis is delirious policy-making not backed by empirical analysis

Firstpost  

The utter disregard for the value of human life could not be starker than in using the COVID-19 crisis as the foreground for the whittling down of labour rights. The proposed moves are the most short-sighted manifestation of the hasty assumptions that continue to undergird the case for neoliberal reform of India’s labour law framework. Over the past weeks, several …

10 unions to protest against labour law changes on May 22
4 years, 10 months ago

10 unions to protest against labour law changes on May 22

The Hindu  

Ten central trade unions said on Friday that it would stage a nationwide protest on May 22 against the changes in labour laws in several States. In a joint statement, the unions said they would also send a representation to the International Labour Organisation on the “violations being committed by the Government of India in regard to all the international …

Dev 360: Can gutting labour laws spell advantage to India?
4 years, 10 months ago

Dev 360: Can gutting labour laws spell advantage to India?

Deccan Chronicle  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants India to be “self-reliant” and a lead player in the 21st century. But can weakening the existing labour laws, which will have a knock-on effect on core labour standards for everyone, help India leverage its demographic dividend? Titled “The impact of core labour standards on Foreign Direct Investment in East Asia”, the paper notes that …

Coronavirus lockdown and a tale of labour reforms sans labourers
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus lockdown and a tale of labour reforms sans labourers

India Today  

Who is labour and who is a labourer in India? With the Centre hinting at greater role of states in deciding how to restart India's economic engine, some of them have introduced subtle changes in implementation of labour laws. For example, the changes in labour laws have allowed the industries to increase working hours by up to 50 per cent …

Are India’s labour laws too restrictive?
4 years, 10 months ago

Are India’s labour laws too restrictive?

The Hindu  

Some State governments including Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have proposed ordinances to exempt manufacturing establishments from the purview of most labour laws. Possibly, if certain other conditions are also met., there is no reason to believe that labour laws by themselves will do anything to improve job creation. If none of that is in place, a simple tweaking of …

Provide income support, restore jobs
4 years, 10 months ago

Provide income support, restore jobs

The Hindu  

Following the adage, “never waste a crisis”, the government of Uttar Pradesh, last week, introduced an ordinance that has scrapped most labour laws for three years — ostensibly for creating jobs and for attracting factories exiting China following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. In fact there is little evidence to suggest that amendment of key labour laws by Rajasthan …

India’s workers face ‘race to the bottom’ of labour standards
4 years, 10 months ago

India’s workers face ‘race to the bottom’ of labour standards

Al Jazeera  

Some states look to extend working hours, suspend minimum pay legislation to help companies recover coronavirus losses. Workers in India are set to face longer days and lower pay in a “race to the bottom”, academics, activists and unions said, as six states plan to suspend labour laws to help industry recover from the coronavirus lockdown. Labour specialists warn, however, …

UP, MP ease labour laws: India needs to ride this wave focussing on employee health, safety and correct 'miserable' record in this matter
4 years, 10 months ago

UP, MP ease labour laws: India needs to ride this wave focussing on employee health, safety and correct 'miserable' record in this matter

Firstpost  

The Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat state governments have relaxed labour laws in a bid to attract investment and restart economic activity that was paralysed by the nationwide coronavirus-induced lockdown. Industry points to challenges, need for ease of labour laws “The new rules are tough, but are needed as these are extraordinary circumstances," said Mahesh Singhi, founder, home-grown merger …

State mulls over relaxing some key labour laws
4 years, 10 months ago

State mulls over relaxing some key labour laws

The Hindu  

The State government is considering relaxing some key labour laws meant to protect the interests of workers in Karnataka, including those which govern termination, retrenchment and closure, even as it is consulting stakeholders. Yediyurappa and Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar, on Friday sought deferment of labour laws for three years to attract new investments to the State. The Industries and Commerce …

Kerala will not dilute labour laws, says Labour Minister
4 years, 10 months ago

Kerala will not dilute labour laws, says Labour Minister

The Hindu  

Making clear that Kerala has not taken any steps to dilute labour laws, Labour Minister T.P. Some states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, had decided this week to suspend major labour laws for a few years to promote investment in light of the COVID-19 epidemic. CPI Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem, a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee …

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