Labour in India
[2] Of these over 94 percent work in unincorporated, unorganised enterprises ranging from pushcart vendors to home-based diamond and gem polishing operations.
[8][9][10][11] According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), Indians have one of the longest average work weeks when compared with the ten largest economies globally.
These include the publicly traded companies, incorporated or formally registered entities, corporations, factories, shopping malls, hotels, and large businesses.
Unorganised sector, also known as own account enterprises, refers to all unlicensed, self-employed or unregistered economic activity such as owner manned general stores, handicrafts and handloom workers, rural traders, farmers, etc.
Another separate category dedicated to distressed unorganised sector includes toddy tappers, scavengers, carriers of head loads, drivers of animal driven vehicles, loaders and unloaders.
[5] Given its natural rate of population growth and aging characteristics, India is adding about 13 million new workers every year to its labour pool.
[28] The remaining 5 million youth joining the ranks of poorly paid partial employment, casual labour pool for temporary infrastructure and real estate construction jobs, or in many cases, being unemployed.
[31] However these studies have faced serious criticism on the grounds that the data used are misinterpreted, [32] and that the results are not robust with respect to standard econometric tests.
However, the figures for 1990 and preliminary data from 1991 indicate declines from levels reached in the 1980s, when between 33 and 75 million workdays per year were lost because of labour disputes.
Researchers at the Overseas Development Institute found that these migrant workers are often subject to harassment, violence, and discrimination during their journeys at their destinations and when they return home.
[41] The study, based on long-distance trains terminating in Kerala, does not cover migrants from the neighbouring states who use other modes of transport.
They are credited to have been the majority of workers who built many of Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar and Persian Gulf modern architecture, including the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in world's history which opened in January 2010.
These migrant workers are attracted by better salaries (typically US$2 to 5 per hour), possibility of earning overtime pay, and opportunity to remit funds to support their families in India.
With factories and workplaces shut down due to the lockdown imposed in the country, millions of migrant workers had to deal with the loss of income, food shortages and uncertainty about their future.
[48] Due to the lockdown, more than 300 deaths were reported till 5 May, with reasons ranging from starvation, suicides,[49] exhaustion,[50] road and rail accidents,[51] police brutality[52] and denial of timely medical care.
Once an employee enters into a bonded relationships, they are characterised by asymmetry of information, opportunity, no time to search for alternative jobs and high exit costs.
[65] The major employment sectors for debt bonded labour include: agriculture, stone quarries, brick kilns, religious and temple workmen, pottery, rural weaving, fishing, forestry, betel and bidi workers, carpet, illegal mining and fireworks.
[66] Poverty, lack of schools, poor education infrastructure and growth of unorganised economy are considered as the most important causes of child labour in India.
[70][75][76] The labour laws of India originated and express the socio-political views of leaders such as Nehru from pre-1947 independence movement struggle.
The law also provides the tax withholdings the employer must deduct and pay to the central or state government before distributing the wages.
These orders aim to remove flexibility from the employer in terms of job, hours, timing, leave grant, productivity measures and other matters.
Any woman employee who worked in any establishment for a period of at least 80 days during the 12 months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery, is entitled to receive maternity benefits under the Act.
The Act was modified to require companies to pay a minimum bonus, even if the employer suffers losses during the accounting year.
The Indian government mandates that this payment be at the rate of 15 days salary of the employee for each completed year of service subject to a maximum of ₹ 10,00,000.
It is an act to provide for a scheme for the payment of gratuity to employees engaged in factories, mines, oilfields, ports, plantations, shops or other establishments and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
[116] In almost all cases white collar employees are forced to resign under threat of negative recommendations and black-listing with industry associations.
They find, consistent with above criticisms, that countries with rigid employment laws have larger unorganised sectors and higher unemployment, especially among young workers.
Manpower Services in india has a vast and diverse labor market, with workers engaged in industries such as construction, manufacturing, logistics, and hospitality.
Regional Manpower Solutions States like Maharashtra and Goa have a high demand for labor in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and hospitality.
Companies such as Shivford Manpower provide workforce solutions, focusing on industrial staffing and outsourced employment, contributing to the structured labor supply chain in the region.
