Summary of key issues in accessing schemes
|
Card/ entitlements |
What should be |
What is |
|
Identity card |
|
- Registered with EPFO/ESI; very low minimum wage |
|
Workday |
|
- 8 hours shift, unpaid overtime work to fix ‘mistakes’ & meet production targets |
|
Pay |
|
- Minimum pay not revised in more than a decade; after 10-15 years of work-ex, workers make Rs 10,000 per month |
|
Caste profile |
|
- Mainly OBCs; very few SC/ST |
|
Unionisation |
|
- No unions inside the factories; time poverty for unionisation. |
|
ESI |
|
- Workers don’t get leave to visit ESI hospital (limited benefit) |
|
PF/ Gratuity |
|
- Workers leave or shift b/w companies to withdraw gratuity/ PF |
|
PoSH |
|
- Policy only on paper |
|
Casual leaves |
|
- Get a weekly off, not allowed to avail casual leaves |
|
Vulnerable targets |
|
- Pregnant women pressurised to resign |
|
Housing |
|
- Usually not in a slum, rent ~ 50% of earnings - Worker hostels where provided are heavily monitored. |
|
Children’s education |
|
- Aspire to send kids to affordable private schools (women are educated till 10th std and see pvt school edu as an escape route for kids). |
|
Homes based work |
|
- Piece rate work is picking up now, sheds set up closer to homes of workers |