Exploited workers, a labour policy’s empty promises, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025, intended to be a "future-ready" labor policy, is criticized for overlooking the realities of exploited workers in India.
• Approximately 11 million people in India endure modern slavery, the highest number globally.
• The policy introduces a portable Universal Social Security Account, merging various schemes for health, pension, and insurance.
• Concerns exist regarding funding, digital exclusion, and the absence of union safeguards, potentially leading to further exploitation.
• The policy aims for 35% female labor participation by 2030, up from 33.7%, through various measures.
• The goal of "near-zero fatalities" by 2047 in occupational safety is viewed as unrealistic without penalties and adequate enforcement.

Detailed Insights:

• The policy is seen as favoring employer ease over worker justice, potentially flouting labor laws and eroding worker dignity, despite constitutional protections.
• The absence of mandated gig employer contributions or state matches risks inadequate payouts under the Universal Social Security Account.
• The reliance on digital IDs may exclude women, senior citizens, and those with low literacy, violating constitutional principles of equality.
• The policy's focus on AI-driven job matching through the National Career Service (NCS) raises concerns about potential bias and discrimination.
• The lack of clear transition benefits for gig workers and the absence of ethics audits for AI algorithms could exacerbate tech-driven inequality.
• The green-tech vision lacks substance without income support or union involvement, potentially leading to an exploitative eco-trap for informal workers.
• Weak enforcement of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act could enable surveillance and undermine fundamental freedoms.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Forced Labor: Work or service exacted under the menace of any penalty and for which the person has not offered themselves voluntarily.
• Gig Economy: A labor market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs.
• Universal Social Security: A comprehensive system providing basic income security and access to essential services for all residents.