Workers

Bosses tap bonus pools, cash awards to attract workers wary of AI

French drugmaker Sanofi, fintech Brex Inc. & International Business Machines Corp. are among firms that are paying cash, awarding points or doling out merch to expand adoption of AI across their biz

Labour codes will boost social security access for gig workers: Eternal

Eternal Ltd on Saturday welcomed the implementation of the four labour codes, which it said will help strengthen the social security access for gig workers, including for it Zomato and Blinkit businesses. In a regulatory filing, Eternal, the parent entity of Zomato and Blinkit said it does not think the financial impact on account of these rules will be detrimental to long-term health and sustainability of its business. The government on Friday notified the four labour codes, which have rationalised 29 existing labour laws. These will formalise employment, strengthen worker protection, and make the labour ecosystem simpler, safer and globally aligned. The four labour codes are -- the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. Under the new codes, 'gig work', 'platform work', and 'aggregators' have been defined for the first time. The codes stipulate that aggregat

Congress accuses Centre of mass deletions in MGNREGA worker database

The Congress on Monday attacked the government over the reported deletion of nearly 27 lakh workers' names from the MGNREGA database between October 10 and November 14 this year, saying this is not an isolated act but a "systematic attempt to end" the rural jobs scheme. The opposition party also reiterated its demands, including a minimum MGNREGA wage of Rs 400 per day and an immediate halt to the mandatory adoption of exclusionary technology like Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS), National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS), and e-KYC. Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, shared on X a media report which claimed that nearly 27 lakh workers' names were deleted from the database of MGNREGA between October 10 and November 14 this year, far exceeding the 10.5 lakh additions during the same period. "Another day, another attempt to deny India's rural poor their legislative right to employment. In the last one month -- between October 10th and November 14t

Construction worker falls to death at Delhi airport near Terminal 3

A construction worker died after falling at Delhi airport's Terminal 3 site on September 5, with Delhi Police registering a case and DIAL citing non-adherence to safety protocols

Coal India to enhance workers' ex-gratia to ₹25 lakh from Sept 17: Minister

Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday announced that the country's largest miner CIL has decided to enhance workers' ex gratia in case of a mine accident to Rs 25 lakh from the existing Rs 15 lakh. In a historic step, Coal India Ltd will introduce uniforms for all its employees, including the chairman and managing director, for the first time after the country's Independence. "Coal India has decided to enhance workers' ex-gratia (in case of mine accident) to Rs 25 lakh from the present 15 lakh from September 17, which is Vishwakarma Diwas and also coincides with the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Reddy said, addressing the media here. He also said, "In another major decision, post Independence Coal India has decided for the first time to introduce uniforms for workers, officials and CMDs of its PSUs besides employees of MDOs from September 17 to ensure a culture of discipline and unity." Coal India Chairman and Managing Director PM Prasad was also present on the

Agitating ASHA workers in Kerala welcome Centre's reported incentive hike

The ASHA workers in Kerala who have been agitating for the last several months against the state government demanding a hike and post-retirement benefits, on Saturday welcomed the Centre's reported decision to increase their fixed monthly incentive. They said the union government's decision would be beneficial for over 10 lakh ASHA workers in the country. There are media reports that the Centre approved a proposal to hike the fixed monthly incentive of ASHAs from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 during the recent 9th meeting of the Mission Steering Group (MSG). The media also reported that the retirement benefits of the ASHA workers would be increased by the Centre, too. S Mini, state vice president of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association (KAHWA) whose members are carrying out the indefinite agitation in front of the Secretariat here, said they had already carried out two Parliament marches raising the same demand. "We welcome the union government's decision to increase the fixed monthl

Funds released for MGNREGS see decline despite higher Budget allocation

The overall funds released under MGNREGS have gone down over the last five years, even as the allocations in the Budget have gone up, information given by the government in the Rajya Sabha showed. According to a written reply by Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan to a question by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, the year of the Covid lockdown 2020-21 saw many migrant workers return to their native villages and Rs 1,11,170.86 crore was released under the rural job scheme, the highest in the five-year period. At the Budget Estimate stage at the beginning of the financial year, Rs. 61,500 crore was allocated for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). In 2021-22, Rs 98,467.85 crore was released under the scheme, against a Budget Estimate of Rs 73,000 crore, while in 2022-23, Rs 90,810.99 crore was released, well over the estimate of Rs 73,000 crore when the Union Budget was announced. In 2023-24, Rs 89,268.30 crore was ...

Since 2014, 340 million people got jobs in MSMEs: Manjhi in Rajya Sabha

More than 34 crore people have got jobs since 2014 in micro and medium enterprises through the Udyam and Udyam Assist portals, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises gave the information while responding to supplementaries. He said there is no dearth of money, and small workers are getting financial assistance under various schemes. For Instance, he said, under the PM Vishwakarma Yojna, people such as cobblers and salon workers have received money. Manjhi also spoke on promoting digital upgrade and adopting artificial intelligence in MSMEs in Haryana to enhance productivity and competitiveness. "IndiaAI mission has been divided into seven pillars, such as IndiaAI Compute Capacity, IndiaAI Innovation Center, IndiaAI Application Development Initiative, IndiaAI Startup Financing, IndiaAI FutureSkills, IndiaAI Dataset Platform, and Safe & Trusted AI. "We have been working under these pillars for the ...

ESIC launches SPREE 2025 to expand social security coverage for workers

The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has rolled out Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE) 2025 to expand its social security coverage, an official statement said. The corporation approved SPREE 2025 during its 196th meeting in Shimla on June 27 under the chairmanship of Labour & Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The scheme will be active from July 1 to December 31, 2025 and provides one-time opportunity for unregistered employers and employeesincluding contractual and temporary workersto enrol without facing inspections or demands for past dues. Employers can register their units and employees digitally through ESIC portal, Shram Suvidha and MCA portal. Registration will be considered valid from the date declared by the employer. No contribution or benefit will apply for periods prior to registration. No inspection or demand for past records will be made for the pre-registration period. The scheme encourages voluntary complianc

India-Pakistan tensions: Back home, border area workers wait and watch

With tensions now subsiding since the ceasefire between the two countries on May 10, those still posted there are breathing a sigh of relief after an anxious period punctuated by blackouts and sirens

Blinkit delivery staff say IDs blocked after strike, restored on apology

Delivery partners said the company asked them to give written assurance against repeating such actions, warning it could take any action if they failed to comply

From Tokyo to LA, workers observe May Day, many voice concerns about Trump

Shouting banzai! or live long, thousands of people gathered in a Tokyo park on Thursday and marched through the streets to the banging of traditional drums, as Japan kicked off celebrations to mark May Day. The holiday, also known as International Workers' Day or Labour Day, marks the struggles and achievements of workers and the labour movement around the world. Thousands of people are expected to attend rallies and marches across the US, including in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. For our children to be able to live with hope, the rights of workers must be recognised, said Junko Kuramochi, a member of a mothers' group who marched in Japan's capital. US organisers say their message this year is focused on fighting back against President Donald Trump's policies targeting immigrants, federal workers and diversity initiatives. Even in Japan, some said Trump's policies hung over the day like a shadow. One truck in the Tokyo march featured a doll that looked like ...

Statsguru: May Day brings focus on future uncertainties for workers

The social protection framework also remains limited in its reach. As of 2022, less than half (48.8 per cent) of the population was covered by at least one form of social protection

One million gig workers registered on e-Shram portal: Mansukh Mandaviya

"The registration of gig workers is an ongoing process, and we're working in line with the Budget announcement. We are likely to register 3-4 million in the next three months," the minister said

Delhi government hikes minimum wages for all categories of workers

The increased wage slabs will be applicable from April 1 2025, a statement by the government said

Chinese workers found in 'slave-like conditions' at BYD's Brazil facility

BYD has cut ties with its contractor Jinjiang Construction Brazil Ltd, and pledged to protect the rights of all subcontracted workers

Lower-paid workers at higher risk of severe injury in auto sector: Report

The report, Crushed 2024, is the sixth annual study on the state of worker safety in the Indian auto sector

Winters of despair: How Delhi's pollution curbs affect construction workers

"When they stop our work, we don't just lose the wages. It's the food on our plates and the little we try to save for our children's future," says Raju Singh, a mason from Bihar. He was one of thousands of migrant and local construction workers rendered jobless following the November 11 ban on constructions, prompted by the Delhi-NCR's air quality plunging to hazardous levels. More such bans are likely to follow throughout the winter. While that is good news for the city's residents, the story is different for these construction workers. "Even though working in the polluted air makes it hard for us to breathe, I would rather work than sit idle," Raju Singh says, describing the crushing blow the restrictions have on his finances. These trysts with work stoppages have become an annual affair for him, and hundreds of others like him. The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) -- a statutory body responsible for formulating ...

Govt to open e-Shram portal for registration of self-employed workers

New facility aims to add millions of unorganised workers to social security benefits

Samsung workers' strike still on at Chennai unit despite pay hike offer: Know why

Samsung workers who have been protesting since September 9 at Samsung Electronics' Sriperumbudur plant in Tamil Nadu have entered into the second month of their protest.