Summary of key issues in accessing schemes (In process)
|
Card/ entitlements |
What should be |
What is (in process) |
|
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 |