The article pursues the poor conditions faced by Indian workforce pursuant to the pandemic and lockdowns in India. The article reports on the situation of the 470 million workers employed in the unorganised sector, with the lack of social security to protect them. Further, the article deals with the effect the pandemic has created leading to legislative changes by the Central government under a special labor code in order to provide social security and health benefits under the Employee’s State Insurance Corporation. The legislative changes also aim to implement changes with regard to enhanced wages to workers under the Minimum Wages Act of 1948, providing displacement allowance of 50 percent of wages and fares in addition to wages during any disruption period, establishment of labour inspectors to conduct surprise checks and two year jail sentences on violation or obstruction of inspector’s work. In addition, the article states that the changes in the labor code are now being sought to fix the wage floor for interstate migrant workers in order to ensure uniformity and consolidation of over 40 labor laws into a set of four labour codes. Lastly, the article also addresses certain suggestions from activists in the field and the involvement of the International Labor Organisation in the issues concerning the Trade unions, workers and the Government.
https://thediplomat.com/2020/06/the-pandemic-revealed-indias-invisible-workforce/
