Shiva Rajora, Business Standard

Stories by Shiva Rajora, Business Standard

Amazon says committed to 'appropriate' action in Manesar Warehouse incident

Amazon says committed to 'appropriate' action in Manesar Warehouse incident

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2024

A company spokesperson told Business Standard that Amazon was committed to the safety and well-being of its employees. "Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the people involved in the incident. "The process is underway and we are looking at a potential case of 'separation' for the people involved within the next week or two," the spokesperson added.

Informal entities in manufacturing lost 5.4 million jobs in 7 years

Informal entities in manufacturing lost 5.4 million jobs in 7 years

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2024

Unincorporated enterprises in the manufacturing sector lost nearly 1.8 million establishments and shed 5.4 million jobs between July 2015-June 2016 and October 2022-September 2023, an analysis of the fact sheet on 'Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE)' and the comparable 73rd round survey in 2015-16 by the National Statistical Office (NSO) showed. An estimated 17.82 million unincorporated enterprises operated in the manufacturing sector in October 2022-September 2023, nearly 9.3 per cent down from 19.7 million unincorporated enterprises in July 2015- June 2016.

Fresh formal hiring at seven-month high in April, shows EPFO data

Fresh formal hiring at seven-month high in April, shows EPFO data

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2024

The number of fresh formal jobs generated in a month increased to a seven-month high in April, signalling a recovery in the formal labour market in the country, according to the latest monthly payroll data released by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Thursday. In April, the number of new monthly subscribers under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) sequentially increased by 18.77 per cent to 887,438 from 747,146 in March.

Govt Eyes Monthly, Quarterly Job Data

Govt Eyes Monthly, Quarterly Job Data

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2024

'Efforts are on to make the data readily available so that it proves useful for policymakers.'

Employment in informal sector below pre-Covid level, shows NSO data

Employment in informal sector below pre-Covid level, shows NSO data

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

After adding 11.7 million workers in the October 2022-September 2023 period from the pandemic lows in April 2021-March 2022, total workers employed in the vast informal sector in India - at 109.6 million - still remains below the pre-pandemic period.

What India Inc Expects From Modi 3.0

What India Inc Expects From Modi 3.0

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2024

'In the new coalition government, India's reform agenda may prioritise job creation and factor market reforms.'

6 States Account For 67% Heat Wave Days

6 States Account For 67% Heat Wave Days

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2024

>Bihar (18 days) has the most number of heatwave days in 2023, followed by Andhra Pradesh (15 days), Odisha (15 days), Jharkhand (13 days), West Bengal (8 days) and Tamil Nadu (6 days).

Share of women in urban salaried jobs at 6-year low in Q4FY24: PLFS

Share of women in urban salaried jobs at 6-year low in Q4FY24: PLFS

Rediff.com   20 May 2024

The share of women employed in regular salaried jobs in urban India hit a fresh low in the January-March quarter (Q4) of 2023-24 (FY24). In the same period, the share of women engaged in self-employment went up. An analysis of the latest quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data showed the share of women in regular wage work among all employed women stood at 52.3 per cent in Q4FY24, down from 53 per cent in the previous quarter.

Hindus 78%, Muslims 14%: PM's Council

Hindus 78%, Muslims 14%: PM's Council

Rediff.com   9 May 2024

The share of the Hindu population declined by 7.8% to 78.06%.
In contrast, the share of the Muslim and Christian populations increased by 43.15% to 14.09%, and by 5.4% to 2.36%.

Minimum wage cap: EPFO mulls hike after 10 years

Minimum wage cap: EPFO mulls hike after 10 years

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2024

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is considering raising the monthly minimum wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 now to improve the coverage and bring millions of informal workers under its purview. The last increase in the minimum wage ceiling was in 2014 to Rs 15,000 from Rs 6,500.

e-Shram may open door to govt benefits for workers

e-Shram may open door to govt benefits for workers

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government will use the unorganised workers database - e-Shram portal - to provide the benefits of various government programmes to the nearly 300 million workers over the next five years, if it is voted to power for the third consecutive term in the upcoming general elections. "We have registered unorganised workers on the e-Shram platform. "We will reach out to the e-Shram registered 'shramik bandhu' and help them avail the benefits of various government programmes that they are eligible for," the manifesto of the party read.

Govt Wants India Inc To Hire Apprentices

Govt Wants India Inc To Hire Apprentices

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2024

Under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, close to 1 million apprentices will be trained in FY24.

New-age, standardised courses in skill ministry's 100-day plan

New-age, standardised courses in skill ministry's 100-day plan

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2024

In the first 100 days of the next government, the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) is planning to introduce new-age courses to suit the changing industry needs. It is set to standardise skilling courses to facilitate easier migration of workers and introduce counselling and mentorship on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) portal. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi - during a Cabinet meeting - was reported to have instructed his ministers to draft roadmaps for the first 100 days and next five years of the next government.

Future of digital payments in India

Future of digital payments in India

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2024

'The focus needs to shift towards the ability to collect payments, particularly in tier-3 to tier-4 areas where acceptance is still lacking.'

'Small finance banks need to build all product ranges'

'Small finance banks need to build all product ranges'

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2024

'You cannot have only one product or one market or one customer segment.'

Longer working hours & low earnings: How India's gig workforce fares

Longer working hours & low earnings: How India's gig workforce fares

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2024

Long working hours, earnings that fall short of meeting household expenses, arbitrary deactivation and blocking of identity (ID) by platforms, and high physical and mental stress are among the major issues plaguing workers of the booming gig economy in India, a report based on a survey has found. Nearly 83 per cent cab drivers reported working for more than 10 hours in a day, while 78 per cent delivery personnel worked for the same duration, showed the report released on Monday, titled "Prisoners on Wheels" and based on a survey by the University of Pennsylvania and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT).

National pension system added 21.5% fewer corporate subscribers in 2023

National pension system added 21.5% fewer corporate subscribers in 2023

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2024

The National Pension System (NPS) added 21.5 per cent fewer fresh subscribers under the corporate segment in 2023 compared to the preceding year. Government officials and experts attribute it to the higher exemption limit of income tax of Rs 7 lakh announced in the FY24 Budget that no more requires employees under this income bracket to opt for NPS for tax-saving purposes. Data collated from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reveals that the corporate component is voluntary in nature and saw 158,212 new subscribers in 2023 compared to 201,517 during 2022.

Qatar Reprieve Highlights India Diplomacy

Qatar Reprieve Highlights India Diplomacy

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2024

The incident remains a reminder of the inherent fragilities of all geopolitical relationships.

FinMin rejects plea to double minimum EPS pension

FinMin rejects plea to double minimum EPS pension

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2024

The Union finance ministry has rejected a proposal sent by the labour ministry to double the monthly minimum pension amount to Rs 2,000 under the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS). The Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision-making body of the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), was apprised of the proposal's rejection during a meeting on Saturday. "According to the recommendations made by a highly-empowered monitoring committee constituted by the government, a proposal to increase the minimum pension under EPS from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month, by providing additional budgetary support, was sent to the ministry of finance.

EPFO mulls reinvesting 50% of ETF redemption proceeds in equity market

EPFO mulls reinvesting 50% of ETF redemption proceeds in equity market

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2024

In a bid to enhance its equity exposure and earn higher returns for its nearly 65 million subscribers, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is considering reinvesting 50 per cent of its exchange-traded funds (ETFs) redemption proceeds back into equity. Sources close to the development said a proposal regarding this was discussed in the investment committee (IC) meeting in October last year, and the recommendation has been sent to the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision-making body of the EPFO for its approval. The next CBT meeting is scheduled to be held on Saturday.