GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation
Source: TH
Context: May 1 is widely known as Labour Day/International Worker’s Day – a day to celebrate the contribution of workers worldwide.
Background:
- The origin of Labour Day dates back to the 19th century – when a nationwide strike of 1886 for an eight-hour workday culminated in a violent movement in Chicago, US.
- In 1889, the International Socialist Conference declared May 1 would be an international holiday for labour/May Day/Labour Day/Workers Day.
- In India, the first Labour Day (initiated by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan) was celebrated on May 1, 1923, in Madras.
The primary objective of Labour Day:
- To acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the working class,
- Create awareness about their rights, and
- Protect them from exploitation.
Current trends in the labour market worldwide: Three years after the COVID-19,
- Small and micro-enterprises/people have been hard hit by inflation
- Lack of opportunities
- Real wages have fallen, and poverty inequality is rising
Indian labour market – Major issues:
- Surplus labour force: Without the commensurate rise in job opportunities in the labour market.
- Unskilled labour force: Leading to a rise in indecent/poor quality jobs like manual scavenging, etc.
- For example, 8 people died in Gujarat (in April 2023) while cleaning sewers, despite the practice being declared illegal across the country.
- Low absorption of skilled labour
- Labour market imperfections: Such as lack of adequate information regarding jobs, numerous labour laws, etc.
- The workers in the unorganised sector: Constitute about 93% of the total workforce in the country → not covered under social security measures → most affected during COVID-19 pandemic.
- Unemployment: Causing problems like disguised unemployment, seasonal unemployment, open unemployment and educated unemployment.
- Son of the soil doctrine: For example, Haryana enacted a new law reserving 75% of private sector jobs with monthly salaries up to ₹30,000 for locals.
| Labour reforms | |
| Global | The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a UN agency to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards.
In 1919, the ILO adopted the Hours of Work (Industry) Convention (British India ratified in 1921), limiting the number of working hours to eight a day and 48 hours a week.
The Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) restated the traditional objectives of the ILO and highlighted two new directions: the centrality of human rights to social policy, and the need for international economic planning. |
| India | Labour falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
The central government replaced the 29 existing labour laws with four Codes.
These Codes regulate (i) Wages, (ii) Industrial Relations, (iii) Social Security, and (iv) Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions.
eShram: This portal will help build a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) in the country.
PM Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM): Meant for old age protection and social security of Unorganised workers.
Aam Admi Bima Yojana: Providing social security to unorganised sector workers. |
How to prioritise social justice for a sustainable and stable future?
- Policies and actions must be human-centred.
- Focusing on ‘decent work’: The most effective way to reduce inequality, and poverty and ensure social protection is a ‘Decent Work for All’ – SDG 8.
- Addressing the long-term structural transformations: By ensuring that new technology creates and supports employment, and skills training, treating demographic changes/migration as a ‘dividend’.
- Reinvigorate labour institutions and organisations: To make social dialogue effective and vigorous.
- Review laws and regulations: To make them up-to-date – protecting workers and supporting sustainable businesses.
- Creating a global platform: To recommit to international cooperation and solidarity and to create greater policy coherence, a Global Coalition for Social Justice is needed.
Conclusion: Social justice should be the keystone of labour reforms at the level of national, regional and global policies and actions. This will help in achieving equitable and resilient societies.
Insta Links:
New labour codes give a free hand to employers: Unions
Mains Links:
“Success of the ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of the ‘Skill India’ programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments. (UPSC 2015)
