Page 27 - Labor
On backfoot, government tries to justify non-release of report on joblessness
Under attack over "suppressing" a report that showed the unemployment rate at a 45-year high, the government on Thursday fielded NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar and CEO Amitabh Kant for damage control and they claimed that the data was still not finalised and will be released when "verified" and ready.
ESIC begins process to fill 5K vacant posts: Gangwar
Employees' State Insurance Corporation has started process to fill 5,000 vacant post of medical and para-medical personnel to meet staff shortage, said Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar on Thursday. "Medical commissioner post would be filled. There were some difficulties. But there will be no difficulties. All difficulties would be removed before implementation of model code of conduct (for Lok Sabha poll due in May)...we have decided to fill 5000 posts of medical/para-medical staff. We have already advertised the posts to meet staff shortage," Gangwar said. Gangwar was at a function to inaugurate OPD (out patient department) Wing of ESIC's Ayush Hospital at Narela here. The minister said the government is committed for good health of labour work force and informed the gathering that the inaugurated hospital is the first dedicated Ayush Hospital of the ESIC, which is being constructed in two acres area with a cost of Rs 30 crores. All the facilities under Ayush, such as Ayurvedic, ...
Gehlot announces hike in unemployment allowance
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday announced an increase in unemployment allowance to people who are without jobs, effective from March 1.Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the student organisation office at the University of Rajasthan on Thursday, Gehlot stated that under the unemployment allowance, women without jobs or any fixed income will be provided with 3500 rupees, while men will be given 3000 rupees respectively."When I was the Chief Minister last time, I started the scheme to pay 600 rupees as unemployment allowance. Now we are increasing this incentive amount as promised in the manifesto," Gehlot said. The Chief Minister also gave an assurance to bring more schemes for the youth of the state.The unemployment allowance was one of the promises that the Congress party had made in its election manifesto.
Thousands fired after garment industry protest in Bangladesh
More than 5,000 Bangladesh workers who demanded higher wages have been fired by factory owners, and hundreds face police charges in the world's second-largest garment export industry after China, an activist said Thursday. Kalpona Akter of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity said the firings came after thousands of workers took to the streets earlier this month in and around Dhaka, the nation's capital. But an industry leader said Thursday that the dismissed workers were involved in vandalism or other crimes, or were laid off when factories closed because of business losses. One worker was killed and more than 50 were injured in clashes during the protests in the Ashulia, Dhaka, Gazipur and Savar areas. In November, the government increased the monthly minimum wage for garment workers to 8,000 takas ($96) from 5,300 takas ($63). But workers weren't satisfied after having demanded more, along with the implementation of other benefits declared by the authorities. Unions and ...
Unemployment seen highest since 1972-73 is only draft, not final report: Niti Aayog
Reacting to media leakage of the National Sample Survey Office's periodic labour force survey (PLFS) showing India's unemployment rate at a 45-year high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18, the Niti Aayog on Thursday described it as a draft report yet to be finalised and jobs data was still being processed on the basis of correct methodology
Govt employees go on mass holiday in Uttarakhand
Over 3.5 lakh government employees in Uttarakhand went on a mass holiday on Thursday in support of their 10-point charter of demands, including a hike in housing allowance and timely promotions. Essential and emergency services like health, roadways, power and water supply were kept out of the ambit of the protest. Taking a tough stand, the state government has enforced no work no pay order with secretary finance Amit Negi asking the director treasury to ensure disbursement of salaries only after verifying whether or not the employees did duty on January 31 and February 4 when the protesting employees plan to stage a mass rally in support of their demands. Employees unions have threatened to declare a statewide shutdown if their demands are not fulfilled by February 4.
Workers to march to Parliament demanding minimum wages, social security, right to housing
Thousands of workers belonging to the unorganised sector under the banner of the Working People's Charter will march to the Parliament when the Union Budget is presented, demanding minimum wages, right to housing and social security among other issues. Several rights groups, like ActionAid and Delhi Rozi Roti Andolan, said the government has failed at least 92 per cent of the workers in the informal sector, who contribute over 60 per cent to the country's GDP, in issues of basic wages, right to housing and social security. The protestors will submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office, Chief minister of Delhi, Ministries of Labour and Housing and Urban Affairs on Friday. "Ninety two per cent of the total workers are informal workers (82.43 per cent unorganised and 9.43 per cent in organised sector). Out of the total informal workers only 11 per cent are regular wage/salaried and 89 per cent are self employed and casual workers," a member said. Speaking on behalf of the group ..
Govt says NSSO report citing high unemployment rate not final
India's unemployment rate hit a 45-year high of 6.1 per cent in 2017, according to a report based on an official survey, which the government said was yet to be approved. The National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO's) periodic labour force survey (PLFS), according to the Business Standard newspaper, states that unemployment was last this high in 1972-73. To compare, the unemployment rate in the country had gone down to 2.2 per cent in 2011-12, according to NSSO data. Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, who had previously mounted a defence of lowering of UPA-era GDP growth rates, at a press conference Thursday said the report cited by the newspaper "is not finalised. It is a draft report". Refusing to comment on the content of the news report, he said the government will release its employment report by March after collating quarter-on-quarter data. He also debunked claims of jobless growth, saying how can a country grow at an average of 7 per cent without employment. Niti Aayog CEO ...
Mohandas Pai sceptical about jobs data attributed to NSSO
He told ANI, whatever Opposition political parties are claiming about the report was "utterly rubbish" as "there is no co-relation between demonetization and unemployment." Whatever is being "claimed" about the NSSO report about unemployment is "actually not official yet", said Pai, Chairman of Manipal Global Education and former Director of Infosys. "It is just a leak. We don't know how much to rely on it," he said. "This might be true, might not be true. Even if it's true, it's just based on a survey. Wo we should go with the available and verifiable data," he added. Arguing that only government job is not a job, he said there are two types of jobs -- one is formal job and the other is in the informal sector. He said according to his assessment, almost 3-4 crore jobs were created in the last four-and-a-half years "We have verifiable data of Provident Fund accounts of almost 9 lakh companies. We have data of cars sold in past years which are being used for various cab services
Hitler, Mussolini caught in BJP-Congress slugfest
German dictator Adolf Hitler and Italian Benito Mussolini on Thursday entered the India's political discourse amid a slugfest between the ruling BJP and the Congress over a National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) report that suggested the country's unemployment rate is highest in 45 years.
Will leave no stone unturned to promote industries in the state: Ashok Gehlot
Livelihood and employment are among the key challenges and the Rajasthan government will leave no stone unturned to promote industries in the state, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Thursday. "Livelihood and employment for the youth is a grave challenge being faced by the country and the state government is focusing on the issues of youths," Gehlot said. The chief minister said the government will be responsive to entrepreneurs and industrialists and facilitate them to set up new projects in the state. He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of India Stonemart here. The adoption of modern technology has reduced wastage drastically and has helped combat the major environmental challenges caused by the stone industry, he said. "Stone exports have also increased due to value addition and architectural reinvention. The need of the hour is to further invest in research and development so that resources can be used efficiently to increase output and grow business," he said. Industry ...
NITI Aayog says creating jobs for new entrants
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is creating enough jobs for "new entrants" but "probably not" high-quality ones, the government's think-tank said on Thursday, after a report showed the country's unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high during 2017/2018.
Unemployed youths will oust BJP in LS polls: Akhilesh
Citing a report that says the country's unemployment rate was at a 45-year-high in 2017-18, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Thursday said the jobless youths will oust the Narendra Modi government in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP, which presented fake data on providing employment, stands exposed. In the last 25 years, the rate of unemployment was highest in 2017-18, Yadav said in a tweet with the hashtag 'HowsTheJobs', a twist on "How's The Josh", a popular line from the film "Uri: The Surgical Strike". Now these unemployed youths will defeat the BJP in the next polls, added the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister who also shared a media report which published the findings of the National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO's) periodic labour force survey (PLFS). In a statement issued here, the SP president further alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was a party of "conspirators" and an "expert" in communalising atmosphere. "It's the responsibility of all the SP workers to make .
Suppressing data admission of guilt by government: CPI-M
The CPI-M on Thursday said that the suppression of employment-related data by the Narendra Modi government is an admission of guilt, and demanded that the data must be placed in Parliament and discussed.
It's Hitler vs Mussolini for Cong and BJP on jobs in country
The Congress and the BJP on Friday invoked dictators to attack each other on the issue of job creation with Congress President Rahul Gandhi calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'Fuhrer' --a title for Germany's Adolf Hitler-- for making tall claims, and the BJP hitting back saying he has "inherited the shortsightedness" of Italian strongman Benito Mussolini. The two parties sparred over a report by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), carried by an English daily, which said the unemployment rate in the country is at the highest in 45 years. Gandhi attacked Modi over employment generation, saying he promised two crore jobs, but five years later a "leaked job creation report card" has revealed a "national disaster". In a tweet, Gandhi also asserted that it was time for the Prime Minister to go. "NoMo Jobs! The Fuhrer promised us 2 Cr jobs a year. 5 years later, his leaked job creation report card reveals a National Disaster. Unemployment is at its highest in 45 years. 6.5 Crore ...
India's jobless rate hits 45-year high, report says, in blow for Modi
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - An official survey that has been withheld by the government shows India's unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high during 2017-2018, the Business Standard newspaper reported on Thursday, delivering a blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi just months before what is expected to be a closely fought general election.
Unemployment allowance in Rajasthan from March 1
Jobless youths in Rajasthan will get unemployment allowance from March 1, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced on Thursday.
Congress says Kovind's address to Parliament insult to people
Citing the Narendra Modi governments "complete failure in all spheres" and lambasting it for unemployment reaching a four-decade high, the Congress on Thursday called President Ram Nath Kovinds address to the joint session of Parliament, "insensitive" and an "insult" to the people of India who are "reeling" under the BJP rule.
#HowstheJobs shot up as top trend on Twitter
Shortly after a report on India's unemployment rate was leaked in the media, a battle of words broke out on social media with Congress leader Rahul Gadhi taking the first potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his #HowstheJobs jibe that soon turned into the top trends on twitter. In a swift retaliation BJP dubbed the report as #FakeNews.Shortly after the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) report on India's unemployment rate leaked in media, #HowstheJobs started trending on Twitter, launching questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleged failure to fulfill promises to provide jobs to youth made by him during his 4.5 years tenure.#HowstheJobs is a parody on catchphrase 'How's the Josh' from the recent Vicky-Kaushal starring recent blockbuster 'Uri: The Surgical Strike'. The phrase had gained social currency and became widely popular on the Internet after several BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Goa Chief Minister Manohar ...
Gehlot announces raise in unemployment allowance for youth
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday announced to raise the unemployment allowance for the youth of the state from March 1. "Girls will get Rs 3,500 and boys Rs 3,000 as unemployment allowance for two years," he said at a function in the Rajasthan University here. Gehlot said that the Congress in its election manifesto had promised to raise the unemployment allowance for the youth. "I had introduced the unemployment allowance during my last tenure. It began with Rs 600. Now, the girls will get Rs 3,500 and the boys Rs 3,000," he added.