Before the global economic crisis of 2008, unorganised workers in India were a largely marginalized section of society. Their wages and job security were often low, and their rights as employees were rarely respected or enforced. In this article, we discuss the situation for unorganised workers before 2008 and how it has since changed.
Definition of Unorganised Workers
Unorganised workers are those who do not have a formal employment contract or any form of social security protection. This includes agricultural labourers, construction workers, domestic help and other casual employees in the informal sector. They tend to be from lower socio-economic backgrounds, often with no access to basic healthcare facilities or education for their children. As such, they are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by employers[1].
Pre-2008 Situation
Before 2008, unorganised workers had little legal protection against unfair working conditions and low wages. The Minimum Wages Act (1948) was introduced as part of India’s labour laws but it did not cover all sectors nor did it guarantee fair remuneration for unorganised workforces. In addition, there were few measures in place to ensure that employers paid minimum wages on time or provided adequate safety standards at workplaces. Furthermore, trade unionism was limited among these groups due to a lack of awareness about their rights as well as fear of reprisal from employers if they attempted to organize themselves into unions[2].
The situation was further compounded by the fact that many unorganised workers lived hand-to-mouth lives without any savings for a rainy day; meaning that even small drops in income could cause them severe hardship and even poverty levels dropping below subsistence level incomes. On top of this issue is the fact that most states lacked comprehensive unemployment insurance schemes which meant that when an employee lost their job through no fault of their own there was very little support available either financially or emotionally. This left them susceptible both physically and mentally making them more likely targets for exploitation by unscrupulous employers who would use threats coupled with offers too good to refuse such as higher pay but with longer hours etc., in order to gain free labour effectively stealing away valuable resources from those already struggling just above subsistence level incomes.
Moreover, women were particularly affected given the patriarchal nature of Indian society where gender roles were still largely defined along traditional lines leading women to be confined mostly within homes performing unpaid care work leaving them highly reliant on male family members for financial support thus making them more vulnerable than men when it came to accessing secure jobs with decent wages. In addition, discrimination based on caste, religion and ethnicity added layers upon layers onto existing inequalities creating an environment where progress towards economic freedom seemed almost impossible unless one belonged towards the upper class.
In light of all this evidence, it is clear why pre – 2008 unorganized worker’s situation before 2008 can be summed up under two distinct categories: 1) Low Wages & 2) Limited Rights & Protections Both factors combined resulted in vast numbers living lives full insecurity, harsh conditions, debt bondage & high vulnerability resulting in overall poor quality life filled with various forms deprivation including food, shelter & health services amongst others thereby perpetuating intergenerational poverty cycles across different pockets within India’s population landscape at large[3].
Post–2008 Situation
Since then, however, things have changed significantly post-2008 with both the central and state governments taking a number of steps to improve the situation for unorganised workers. The first major step was taken in 2009 when the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act (UWSSA) was passed which provided social security benefits, health & life insurance as well as pension schemes for those working in the informal sector. This act also extended protection from arbitrary dismissal and non-payment of wages along with other important rights such as maternity leave, childcare facilities etc.
In addition, a number of government policies have been implemented to increase access to education and healthcare services amongst this group. For example, under the Right to Education Act (2009), all children between 6 – 14 years old were made eligible for free schooling while pregnant women are now entitled to free pre-natal check-ups under National Maternity Benefit Scheme (2013). Furthermore, states like Odisha & Telangana introduced special food programs targeting elderly citizens aged 60 or above living below the poverty line thus providing them with subsidized meals on a regular basis throughout the year thereby improving their overall quality of life significantly[4].
Moreover, Labour Laws have also been amended over time such that they now cover the vast majority of sectors within India’s labour landscape including agricultural labourers who constitute the largest chunk of the country’s workforce however despite these changes there is still much room for improvement given the fact that many employers continue to flout existing laws by either not paying minimum wage rates or refusing to adhere safety standards leading cases exploitation being reported across country even today.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that although progress has certainly been made since 2008 in terms of protecting rights and providing welfare benefits for unorganised workers, more needs to be done in order to ensure that all employees enjoy fair wages and good working conditions. There must be greater enforcement mechanisms put into place so that employers are held accountable if they violate any labour laws; otherwise, it will remain difficult for this section of society to escape poverty levels rising beyond subsistence-level incomes. In addition, trade unions should be encouraged among unorganised workforces so they may better organize themselves against unfair practices carried out by employers. Finally, further educational opportunities need to be created so these individuals can acquire the skillsets necessary to become self-reliant financially speaking rather than relying upon male family members’ support alone. With these steps in place, unorganised workers will be able to move out of the shadows and become an integral part of India’s economy.
REFERENCES:
- Chatterjee, S. (2016). Labourers of Unorganized Sectors and their Problems. International Journal of Emerging Trends in Science and Technology, Vol.3, Issue-7, p.4397-4405.
- Diwaker, N. & Ahamad, T. (2014). Problems and Challenges Faced by Unorganised Sectors: An Indian Perspective. New Man International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.1, Issue-12, p.p.31-39.
- The Report: National Commission on Labour 1969. (Ministry of Labour, Employment and Rehabilitation, Government of India).
- Dipankar Debnath, ‘Way Forward for Empowering of Unorganized Workers in India: A Review of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008’ (2014) 5 Indian JL & Just 237.
[1] Chatterjee, S. (2016). Labourers of Unorganized Sectors and their Problems. International Journal of Emerging Trends in Science and Technology, Vol.3, Issue-7, p.4397-4405.
[2] Diwaker, N. & Ahamad, T. (2014). Problems and Challenges Faced by Unorganised Sectors: An Indian Perspective. New Man International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, Vol.1, Issue-12, p.p.31-39
[3] The Report: National Commission on Labour 1969. (Ministry of Labour, Employment and Rehabilitation, Government of India).
[4] Dipankar Debnath, ‘Way Forward for Empowering of Unorganized Workers in India: A Review of the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008’ (2014) 5 Indian JL & Just 237.
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