Somesh Jha

All stories by Somesh Jha

Modi's hardest task in 2021: Creating jobs

Modi's hardest task in 2021: Creating jobs

Rediff.com5 Jan 2021

The biggest worry is not the shrinking of the labour market, but the collapse of good jobs.

Subscribers to get EPF savings interest at one go

Subscribers to get EPF savings interest at one go

Rediff.com21 Dec 2020

The EPFO had decided that 8.15 per cent interest from its debt income would be credited immediately and the remaining 0.35 per cent capital gains from the equity sale would be given later, subject to its redemption.

CEA Subramanian asks NSC to make junked consumer spending report public

CEA Subramanian asks NSC to make junked consumer spending report public

Rediff.com7 Dec 2020

The findings of the report showed consumer spending falling for the first time in over four decades in 2017-18.

Govt to provide PF subsidy for 4 million jobs lost during pandemic

Govt to provide PF subsidy for 4 million jobs lost during pandemic

Rediff.com4 Dec 2020

Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana announced by the Centre to incentivise formal sector job creation, all 'new employees', who were never a part of the EPF system in the past, and those who made an exit from employment during the Covid-19 pandemic from March 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020, will be eligible for the benefit.

Draft labour rules: No licence for contractors with criminal history

Draft labour rules: No licence for contractors with criminal history

Rediff.com30 Nov 2020

The norms, say industry experts, are not sufficient to weed out fly-by-night contractors.

First time in 5 yrs BMS rejects call by other unions for nationwide strike

First time in 5 yrs BMS rejects call by other unions for nationwide strike

Rediff.com25 Nov 2020

The ten central trade unions have demanded a cash transfer of Rs 7,500 a month to all families that do not pay income tax, free ration of 10 kg per head in a month to all the needy, expansion of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment scheme to cover more days of job, withdrawal of labour codes and farm bills, halt on privatisation, universal pension coverage and withdrawal of "draconian" circular on forced premature retirement of government officials.

Govt plans to create 5-6 mn jobs through Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana

Govt plans to create 5-6 mn jobs through Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana

Rediff.com24 Nov 2020

Private firms will have to maintain a minimum net addition to their workforce each month from October this year to June 2021 to get the Employees' Provident Fund subsidy for the new recruits.

Draft rules for gig workers are 'complex, confusing and shoddy'

Draft rules for gig workers are 'complex, confusing and shoddy'

Rediff.com17 Nov 2020

Experts say, these leave many matters to the discretionary powers of bureaucrats, rather than providing them explicitly in the rules.

Revenue-starved govt asks cash-rich PSUs to pay quarterly dividends

Revenue-starved govt asks cash-rich PSUs to pay quarterly dividends

Rediff.com14 Nov 2020

A communiqu sent by the department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) to the heads of all PSUs, said the move would help the government to get predictable and periodic dividends before Budget estimates are firmed up.

Gig workers to make PF contribution, get social security for first time

Gig workers to make PF contribution, get social security for first time

Rediff.com5 Nov 2020

According to the law, the contribution "should not be more than 5 per cent of the amount paid to gig workers. The government is likely to start seeking contribution from gig companies towards the fund from April 1, 2021.

Reskill or refund: Retrenched workers face Hobson's choice

Reskill or refund: Retrenched workers face Hobson's choice

Rediff.com20 Oct 2020

If retrenched workers are unable to reskill within a fixed period of time, they will have to return the money given to them by the government. Moreover, they may be asked to pay back an interest on the sum transferred.

New inflation index to impact DA, 30 mn govt staff to get more pay

New inflation index to impact DA, 30 mn govt staff to get more pay

Rediff.com16 Oct 2020

However, the hike in salary for government officials may take some time as the Centre had earlier this year decided to put a freeze on any hike in the DA of its employees till July, 2021, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rules for hiring contract workers eased

Rules for hiring contract workers eased

Rediff.com13 Oct 2020

However, the government has enacted an important change to the fixed-term employment framework that may help companies in handing out contractual jobs to its existing permanent workforce.

Why India doesn't have any data on migrant workers

Why India doesn't have any data on migrant workers

Rediff.com5 Oct 2020

Will the government wait for a new law or start counting the invisible workforce now? Somesh Jha reports.

Six months on, migrants caught between hope and despair

Six months on, migrants caught between hope and despair

Rediff.com5 Oct 2020

Six months after the lockdown was imposed, two dozen migrant workers were interviewed across five villages of Prayagraj. As the economy opens up, most of them are either hunting for a job or desperately waiting for a phone call from their previous employers. But the bruises of the lockdown are still fresh in their minds. Somesh Jha reports.

Codes give more power to states to be flexible on labour laws

Codes give more power to states to be flexible on labour laws

Rediff.com3 Oct 2020

The move will help industries in pushing authorities for exemption under various labour laws at a micro-level, along with demanding changes to bring greater flexibility in their operations related to retrenchment, safety standards, and collective bargaining.

Govt issues Covid-19 safe workplace guidelines

Govt issues Covid-19 safe workplace guidelines

Rediff.com1 Oct 2020

While demanding more outdoor air ventilation, the strategy document calls for a structural modification in the workplace.

Retrenchment norms: Govt says it won't be 'hire and fire'

Retrenchment norms: Govt says it won't be 'hire and fire'

Rediff.com29 Sep 2020

The government further defended its move to introduce fixed-term employment, insisting that the present system of hiring workers through contractors is exploitative.

NPAs under Mudra scheme rise to 5% for public sector banks

NPAs under Mudra scheme rise to 5% for public sector banks

Rediff.com24 Sep 2020

Former RBI governors Urjit Patel and Raghuram Rajan have also expressed worry about the Mudra scheme, particularly government's target-setting practice and the rising bad loans.

Covid: Some good news for ESI subscribers

Covid: Some good news for ESI subscribers

Rediff.com18 Sep 2020

ESI subscribers to get Covid unemployment allowance within 15 days of claim. Payment will be made into bank account of the insured and Aadhaar will be used for identification.

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