Unorganized Labor Research Articles

Regulation of labor migration in rural areas

Goal – the article examines the process of outflow of highly qualified specialists from rural areas, its reasons, since this trend is relevant for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the world community. Methods – retrospective analysis, demographic and economic statistics, index, graphic, comparisons and generalizations. Results – the main directions of Kazakhstan’s migration policy are considered. The authors analyzed data on the number and share of the urban and rural population in the republic, based on statistics. The balance of interregional migration is presented, since demographic and economic results affect the economy regardless of its level of development. Conclusions – attention is focused on the process of urbanization in the context of globalization, which negatively affects the number of rural residents. Internal migration is interconnected with international migration, the possibility of moving to other states. Currently, migration processes in the country have undergone changes, due to the transformation of values and migration factors, which represent specific results of the current stage of socio-economic and political development of Kazakhstan, which is confirmed by analytical information from 2013 to 2023. Government measures, reflected in resettlement programs, are aimed at stimulating national economy, quantitative transformations of the ethnic composition in the receiving areas, as well as modifications in the structure of labor market. Current issues of labor migration: labor shortage, natural and migration population decline. Tracking these indicators is difficult due to the unorganized labor market, labor intensity of this work and the need for significant financial resources.

A Study on Work-Life Quality of Female Domestic Workers

Abstract: Domestic workers are regarded as an important source of income for millions of women worldwide. This sector has existed for centuries, as evidenced by the histories of slavery, colonialism, and other forms of servitude. In today's society, the contribution of domestic work is vital for the economy. They have become increasingly in demand around the world in recent decades. Domestic workers are not normally considered workers, and their working conditions remain unregulated. Their employment situation is considered outside the general framework of existing employment laws. This is mainly because most of the work done is generally invisible. Women domestic workers account for a large part of India's unorganized labor force. Though men do this type of work, there is a trend toward the feminization of domestic work. People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are primarily involved in this work. The increase in the number of domestic workers in India is attributed to an increase in affluent sections' per capita income, increased female labor participation, the disintegration of joint families, and an increase in life expectancy with an increase in ill health levels. Therefore, their daily struggle for survival has yet to capture the attention of the government. Thus, this study is entitled “A Study on Work-Life Quality of Female Domestic Workers.” This helps to understand the major factors responsible for the low economic status of women domestic workers. The study will also highlight the issues and problems of these women domestic workers and various measures that can be taken for the welfare of this sector. Key Words: Quality of Work Life, Women, and Domestic Workers.

Legal Protection of Workers in Unorganized Sectors

ABSTRACT: Each sector has a significant role in the development of a society. That may be an organized sector or unorganized sector. With respect to the organized sectors there are fixed working hours, wages and there will be a security of employment. But in the unorganized sectors the jobs of the workers may not be regular and also not secure. Thus, the rules and regulations of the workers will vary between organized and unorganized sectors. There are more privileges for the workers of organized sectors than the unorganized sectors. Whereas, in most of the countries above 75% of the total work force depend on the unorganized sector. Moreover, the existence of a vast majority of unorganized labor employment cannot be neglected in society. So, there should be benefits and protection of workers in unorganized sectors. Hence, there are legislations and provisions in the constitution which focus on the welfare of the workers in the unorganized sectors. Nevertheless most of the people may not be aware of the protections given to those workers under the constitution and the legislation. An attempt is made in this article to focus on those legal protections guaranteed for the benefit and welfare of the workers in unorganized sectors.

Mental health and anxiety among unorganized sector labour

Background: National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) in 2009–10, the total employment in the country was of 46.5 crore comprising around 2.8 crore in the organised and the remaining 43.7 crore workers in the unorganised sector. Out of these workers in the unorganised sector, there are 24.6 crore workers employed in agricultural sector, about 4.4 crore in construction work and remaining in manufacturing and service. The unorganized labour is overwhelming in terms of its number range and therefore they are omnipresent throughout India. As the unorganized sector suffers from cycles of excessive seasonality of employment, majority of the unorganized workers does not have stable durable avenues of employment. Even those who appear to be visibly employed are not gainfully and substantially employed, indicating the existence of disguised unemployment. Though unorganized sectors contribute substantially to the country’s growth, the status of labour force remains unchanged. In developing and over populated countries like India persons working in unorganized sector are at high risk of job insecurities. As per the India labour Market Update, July 2016, the Construction sector has been the main creator of job. Objectives: to study the mental health of labour in unorganized sector and anxiety among them. Methods: This study is conducted at construction sites in City of Pune, Maharashtra, India. This study included 110 randomly selected construction site labours (62 males and 48 females). For data collection researcher used Sinhas’s Comprehensive Anxiety Inventory (SCAT) and Mental Health Checklist (MHC) by Kumar (1992). Results: The findings of the study suggest that there lies significant difference in anxiety and mental health of male and female labour as well. It was further concluded that there lies a high correlation between anxiety and mental health of labour in unorganized sector. Conclusions: The study shows that the work in organized sector contribute moderate to high level of anxiety amongst the labour. There must be a management policy with reference to mental as well as physical health of these workers. It should take into consideration the issues concerned with in time assessment and treatment as well as rehabilitation. Work stress can be prevented by the techniques of human engineering, by designing the work environment effectively. The work environment and working conditions has to be developed in a very sensitive and responsive management system.

From Manholes to Roboholes: A Technology-Based Solution for Sanitation Workers

Safai Karmachari Andolan informed the Supreme Court that in 2021 on a daily basis approximately 4.97 lakh dry toilets were serviced by animals and 7.94 lakh were serviced manually. An article in the Hindustan Times of 8 January 2021 ( India News, 2021) proposed that the government provides every manual scavenger 10 lakh so that each might liberate himself/herself from the occupation and adopt an alternate livelihood. In 1993, 2012 and 2013, three acts were proposed for reformation and rehabilitation of manual scavengers but little to no rehabilitation has occurred. There are scant government records of scavengers or sanitation workers available. According to the 2011 census, manual scavenging is categorized as a domain of unskilled work performed by unorganized labour. This article addresses the categorization of manual scavengers as sanitation workers, the social exclusion criteria for sanitation workers and how robotic technology can rehabilitate sanitation workers and uplift them socially. The article relies on semi-structured interviews conducted in two demographic regions of Haryana state in India where robotic technology is currently being used.

Hysterectomies and bodily autonomy in female migratory farm laborers in the unorganized labor sector in Beed district of Maharashtra: A Review Article

Seasonal labor migration is a vital aspect of livelihood in rural and tribal regions of India. Females are paid less than males for the same amount of work. Contractors are unwilling to hire female menstruating laborers as menstruation and pregnancy are considered as roadblocks. The worry of hefty fines for absence pushes girls to get their uterus removed as menstruation & pregnancy may require them to pass work opportunities. This review aims to summarize the prevalence of hysterectomies among these women, and tries to understand the mindset behind the same. In 2018, 36% of female sugarcane laborers in the State had undergone a hysterectomy. While the rate of hysterectomies among women aged between 15- 49 years at the all-India level is 3.2%, the hysterectomy rate in the state of Maharashtra is 2.6%. Our findings revealed several studies and newspaper articles showing the prevalence of irrational hysterectomies among the unorganized migratory farm laborers as a result of work-related pressures, a grossly unregulated private medical sector and exploitative contractors who hire them.

WOMEN WORKERS IN THE UNORGANISED SECTOR: A HUMAN RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

Human rights are recognized as inalienable rights to be realized by all human beings. Therefore it is necessary to understand how the unorganized workers generally, and women workers in particular, who are regarded as most vulnerable section of India's human resources, realize their human rights. Unorganised Sectors in India are contributing immensely towards economic growth, however the same is not recognised due to lack of statistical information and lack of proper mechanisms to collect the same. Equally a huge number of people are depended on workers working in unorganised sectors, but the same is also not recognised. The ILO report on "More and Better Job for Women — An Action Guide" states that more than 45% women all over the world in the age group of 15 to 64 are contributing to the economy in a significant way'. The unorganized sector is too vast to remain within the confines of any conceptual definition. Hence, descriptive means are used to identify the unorganized sector. Its main feature can be identified through the sector and process where unorganized labour is used. Despite existence of labour laws, the workers in this sector do not get social security and other benefits for various reasons and there is hardly any trade union or constitutional mechanism to fight for them. In this paper an attempt has been made to study the human rights of women workers of the unorganized sector.

Research on Indian Architecture Safety Management Mode

There are about 8.5 million workers employed in the construction activities in India. The construction workers constitute a major portion of the unorganized labour and characterized by their casual nature of employment, temporary relationship with the employer, prolonged and uncertain working hours, lack of safety and health measures, and inadequacy of basic amenities and welfare facilities. There are many legislation providing safeguards for the contract workers in India. The construction safety has been made legally enforceable after the enactment of The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and Central Rules 1998. This paper details on various statutory provisions for construction safety in India with specific reference to the BOCW Act, Central Rules and State Rules.

ANALYSIS OF INDIAN REAL ESTATE SECTOR IN COVID-19 POSED BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

The real estate sector of India is one of the largest sectors of economy contributing to 6 to 7%. The real estate sector provides immense employment opportunity in unorganized labour market. Owing own house is prominent amongst dreams of all individuals and this sector helps to convert this dream into reality. India is witnessing large section of middle class and there is rise in disposable income. This is creating thrust for real estate sector in India. With market size increasing from 120 billion US dollars in 2017 to whopping projected size of 1000 billion US $ in 2030, the sector is projected to experience boom. The most noticeable change in real estate business is shift from family oriented set up to professionally managed ones. Although there are numerous growth drivers for the sector, but the threats and challenges too are simultaneous. Unstable government policies, red tape, inflation pull, litigations, lack of transparency and issues pertaining to tax negatively impact the sector. Above all, the lockdown and pause in construction work due to Covid-19 has pulled the industry in trench. This paper analyses the strength, weakness, opportune area and emerging trends of the sector and also entail governmental initiatives and future trend. If certain corrective measures are taken during the lockdown, the industry would be able to attain the projected status.

Experts, Exiles, and Textiles: German “Rationalisierung” on the 1930s Turkish Shop Floor

AbstractIn the wake of the Great Depression, in the early 1930s the Turkish state decided to undertake an ambitious project of industrialization. Though state factories were presented and celebrated as model institutions of national modernity, their operations were characterized from the outset by serious and chronic problems of inefficiency and low productivity. To secure technical and managerial know-how on the shop floor, the Turkish state approached knowledgeable German industrial managers to organize its industrial production rationally, hoping to take advantage of the increasingly repressive political climate in Germany, which was driving leading experts into exile. This article analyses the transfer of scientific management from the German industrial context, with its craft control of the labour process and predominance of skilled labour with a strong labour movement, to Turkey, with its army of unskilled, cheap, and unorganized labour and where industrial development was in its infancy.

Capitalist agriculture and the creation of the circular migrant: Understanding COVID-19’s impact on internal migrants in India

COVID-19 has affected the internal migrants in India badly. When the government announced a lockdown with a 4-hour notice, millions of these migrants, who were a part of the vast unorganized labor force to be found in urban areas, were left stranded. In our article, we analyze the structural factors that underpin this crisis. We argue that the migrant crisis that unfolded in the urban areas has its roots in India’s embrace of globalization, the rise of capitalistic agriculture, and the increasing casualization of labor work in the urban labor markets.

Situation of Brick Klins in eastern UP - A case study of three Brick Klins

The article is regarding the development of a project proposal of Purvanchal Gramin Seva Samiti (PGSS), Gorakhpur - a Diocesan partner of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), State Office, Lucknow on interventions in brick kilns of eastern UP. The Ministry of Labour, Government of India has categorized the unorganized labour force under four groups viz. occupation, nature of employment, especially distressed categories & service categories. Workers in brick klins come under the terms of occupation category under the unorganized sector in India (GoI, 2008). The unorganized sector plays a significant role in the economy in terms of employment opportunities & poverty alleviation. The sector has a crucial role in our economy in terms of employment & its contribution to the ‘National Domestic Product (NDP), savings & capital formation. (Vikkraman, P, Basakaran, S, May, 2009). The case study brings out the reality of the workers of brick klins, their vulnerability, social insecurity, potential health risks, migration issues & the hazardous atmosphere that they thrive in their day-to-day lives. Thus, one can gauge the importance of the enactment of various acts related to the unorganized sector, social welfare schemes for this sector & the role of Non-Government Organizations for the welfare of the sector.

A Study on Statutory Provisions for Construction Safety in India

Abstract There are about 8.5 million workers employed in the construction sector in India. Construction workers constitute a major portion of the unorganized labour and are characterized by their casual nature of employment, temporary relationship with the employer, prolonged and uncertain working hours, lack of safety and health measures, and inadequacy of basic amenities and welfare facilities. There are many legislation clauses providing safeguards for contract workers in India. Construction safety has been made legally enforceable after the enactment of The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act in 1996 and the Central Rules in 1998. This paper details various statutory provisions for construction safety in India with specific reference to the BOCW Act, Central Rules, and State Rules.

Subcontracting as a New Employment Form in Turkey (2000-2016)

Along with globalization process, labor market and employment policies have been undergoing fundamental transformations in Turkey since 1980’s. Above all, sub-contractor practice has become a dominant form of employment in production sector and the use of subcontracting has given significant problems and outcomes – low wages, precariousness, unorganized labor, poor working conditions, work-related accident, job security etc. – for labor force since 2000’s. In this study, alongside with these crucial problems, the prevalence and the impact of subcontracting relations in public and private sector will be explored and analyzed from 2000 to 2016 in Turkey. The aim of this study is to identify the contextual problems and put forward some implications of this process as well as some suggestions for future studies.

Domestic Workplace: Critical Crossroads of Unorganized Labour and Management

In the world of work at large, domestic workplace constitutes an altogether different space for hitherto labour jurisprudence and more so in the given age of liberalization-privatization-globalization worldwide. The way workforce used to get together at workplace and thereby unionized to form trade union in factory, mine, plantation and other establishments cannot take place anyway in case of domestic workplace. No wonder that the same attracts attention of relevant stakeholders on several counts, for example, labour on the one side and management on the other side. The author explores peculiarity of such workplace, issues involved therein along with means and methods to address major hurdles for management and labour studies to grapple with one among the least explored workplaces of the world. The forthcoming paragraphs are meant to grapple with relative (read comparative) vulnerability for members of the workforce inside a space otherwise meant for private individual use, albeit with the potential for abuse to gross detriment of the workforce and, at times, of the management as well. With recent focus of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the labour wing of the UN administration and one among the oldest institutions meant for global governance since the League of Nations regime, a unique trajectory of labour jurisprudence is on its wise to save stakeholders of the workplace from drudgery, if not vagary, of injustice with impunity. The hitherto private space is thereby increasingly converted to public space during its working hours in technical sense of the term and thereby subjected to the rule of law genre available elsewhere outside.

Socio-economic, Health and Working Conditions of Child Beedi Rollers in Beedi Industry

Beedi manufacturing industry in India, is a highly labour-intensive and predominantly it is an unorganized sector. The beedi rolling function is generally done by women and child labourers who have no other means of financial earning. Child labourers are weak segments of Indian unorganized labour force. This study has been done in Solapur city of Maharashtra state in India. This city is important and famous for power loom industry and beedi industry also. Through the study an attempt has been made to highlight the health problems faced by child beedi rollers. This study also focuses on the factors which force children to work in beedi manufacturing industry and assesses literacy level of the child beedi rollers. The results of the study show that socio-economic condition of majority of the selected child beedi rollers is very poor and majority of them are facing various deceases due to constant exposure to tobacco dust and unhygienic working conditions at work place. Most of them have not completed their primary education.

A Study on the Working Conditions of Sales Persons in a Garment Shop at Mangalore

The unorganized labour could be described as those who have not been able to be organized in pursuits of common objective because of constraints, such as casual nature of employment, ignorance, and illiteracy. The small size of establishments with low capitalinvestment per person employed, scattered nature of establishment and superior strength ofthe employer operating singularly or in combination. Labour engaged in informal sectors,being unorganized, have weak bargaining power and have been deprived of reasonablewages and working conditions. It is a common complaint that the benefits of labourlegislation have not reached rural and unorganized labour. Unlike the modern sector, wherewages are usually protected by labour legislations and trade union activity in the informalsector, there is an easier entry, but less job security and lower earnings. The people workingin the unorganized sector are mostly middle-class people. Unorganized laborers work underthe close supervision, control of employers and they do not have a common employer. They face many problems like Low productivity, due to lack of skills and proper tools, Noprotection from the minimum wage legislative and Exploitation by middlemen/ contractors.This Study is conducted with 50 respondents, 25 female, and 25 male sales personnel. TheObjectives are; to understand the working conditions of the respondents and to explore the possible progressive changes in the working conditions of the respondents. Both primary andsecondary data is collected in this study

Legislative Failure in Addressing Social Security Concerns of Temporary or Short Duration Migrants Working in the Unorganized Sector

More than 92% of India’s dauntingly large labour force is currently employed in the unorganized sector. A large segment of this unorganized sector labour force is the Temporary/Seasonal Migrant Workmen. Protection of the migrants is covered by a host of legislations such as the Inter State Migrant Workmen (Regulation and Conditions of Service) Act 1979, the Unorganised Sector Social Security Act, 2008, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948; the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970; the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, in addition to many employment specific legislations. However, in reality these laws through their narrow definition clauses, complex procedural claims and dismal implementation fail to capture and address the concerns of many temporary/seasonal migrant workmen. As a result, these workers who feature as the lowest rung on the ladder of unorganized sector labour force have been “invisibilised” by the very Legislations that in theory address them. This Article attempts to compressively examine the socio-economic marginalisation of Temporary/Seasonal migrant workmen in the Unorganized Sector especially in context to access to basic amenities, minimum ways and social security; and address the legislative failure in addressing these concerns.

Sociological Study of Women Domestic Workers in Bangalore City

<div><p><em>Women in India are approximately about out half of the population, they have been the weakest of the weaker sections which have been the most exploited in every field and in all sectors .Women in have been the most abused and have been undergone a various types of hardships in their everyday life. Even though the government of India have been implemented some of policies implemented as their social security not many of them have come to reality. The women domestic workers in India are the unorganized group who strived to make their living without any life security and are in the vital situations in their social life. Over the last few years, studies on domestic life security in India have noted the increase in the numbers of migrant female domestic workers in the cities. They have also observed that domestic work is highly informal in its organization and tinted the vulnerabilities of domestic workers who belong to the poorer and uneducated sections of society. These studies also note that women from <strong>marginalized castes</strong> form a substantive group of domestic workers (Kaur 2006; Neetha 2004 and 2008). Domestic workers form a significant part of this informal economy which is unorganised. Despite the fact, domestic workers, constitute a crushing 90% of this unorganized labor force in India, they have always been <strong>marginalized</strong> as the unorganised sector. Whether they work part time, full day or as live in workers, they are forced to put up with various indignities, in the privacy of the households they work in. This part of my paper constitutes the study of Domestic workers in the Bangalore city is significant aspect due to its urban development process and women domestic have found to be the most wanted. Domestic workers, an estimated <strong>4 lakhs</strong> in <strong>Bangalore City</strong> work under illogical rules, are largely unskilled and illiterate. For years, women have been doing the drudgery of washing, cleaning, cooking and all menial tasks in other households for their own survival. Long hours of work, years of toil often with no living wage, no rest or recreation, sexual harassment, abuse of their dignity, untouchability, often treated callously are the story of their lives. The conditions of lakhs of child women domestic workers, the 24 hours live in workers, are even more exploitative and obnoxious. There have been many cases of rape and murder, horror tales of children being beaten, locked in bathrooms, bitten and burnt by employers. In my paper I have highlight some of the vital incidents where women have been facing and also the government policies and programmes and polices in the women empowerment in the social sector.</em></p></div>

Developing Countries, Political Clientilism, and Weymouth’s “Tug of War” Model of Antitrust Reform

Stephen Weymouth’s article, ‘‘Competition Politics: Interest Groups, Democracy, and Antitrust Reform in Developing Countries,’’ argues that the political determinants of competition policy reform, which includes both competition legislation and its enforcement, lie at the intersection of two competing forces: the insiders that comprise incumbent businesses and organized labor in these businesses; and the outsiders that comprise entrepreneurs, consumers, and unorganized labor. The main contention is that the insiders will deter competition reforms while outsiders will demand these changes. The underlying motivations for these competing groups to act in these ways are intuitive: the insiders, including the affiliated labor groups, gain by keeping their markets uncompetitive and extracting ‘‘monopoly rents’’; while the outsiders would want costless entry to these markets (entrepreneurs), competitive prices (consumers), and more firms and employment (unorganized labor). Very importantly, Weymouth introduces into the analyses the relevant political context within which these interactions take place. The a priori argument is that if the political system is characterized by more democracy rather than less, the probability of competition reform would be higher since the outsiders represent a bigger voting bloc that can effectively decide electoral outcomes in a democracy.