6 states plan to snatch away rights of workers

mumbai — Workers in India are set to face longer days and lower pay in a “race to the bottom”, academics, activists and unions said, as six states plan to suspend labour laws to help industry recover from the coronavirus lockdown.

Despite a spike in Covid-19 cases this week, India is looking to ease its seven-week lockdown amid increasing pressure from business leaders and ordinary people who say the strict curbs have destroyed the livelihoods of millions of workers.

Labour specialists warn, however, that the decision of states to suspend federal and state labour laws enshrining workers’ rights would push even more people into the informal sector, drive down wages and erode working conditions.

“It’s not only regression, it’s a deep slide into a bottomless pit and a race to the bottom of labour standards,” said labour economist K.R. Shyam Sundar, a professor at the Xavier School of Management.

“Other states will imitate (the six states),” he added.

Under the planned labour law suspensions announced so far, working shifts in the six states would be extended from eight hours to 12 hours for a threemonth period. They also want to suspend legislation guaranteeing minimum wages and the formation of worker unions for up to three years, according to state documents seen by the Reuters.

Social security benefits including welfare funds or provisions for the health and safety of women employees would also be waived in some states.

Officials in the six states say the measures will help local industries to bounce back and reverse losses incurred during the weeks of lockdown, and also lure new investment. “This was done to improve investment and labour employment... We just want factories to restart,” a state labour official said. —