Somesh Jha &Amp;Amp; Abhishek Waghmare

Stories by Somesh Jha &Amp;Amp; Abhishek Waghmare

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.com   3 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.com   1 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.com   29 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.

Agri Bills: Why Punjab and Haryana farmers are leading the protests

Agri Bills: Why Punjab and Haryana farmers are leading the protests

Rediff.com   28 Sep 2020

Data shows that the current system of decentralised marketing and centralised procurement helps Punjab and Haryana farmers the most, while its efficacy in other states has been poor. Experts and farm leaders say success of the laws rests heavily on implementation.

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

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

Rediff.com   24 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.

Each farmer is likely to get cash fertiliser subsidy of Rs 5,000 per year

Each farmer is likely to get cash fertiliser subsidy of Rs 5,000 per year

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2020

The government's main rate setting panel suggested that this be done in two tranches of Rs 2,500 each in the kharif and rabi seasons.

Covid: Some good news for ESI subscribers

Covid: Some good news for ESI subscribers

Rediff.com   18 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.

Migrants must not bear cost of Covid: Centre to states

Migrants must not bear cost of Covid: Centre to states

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2020

Labour ministry guidelines say workers returning to cities must get housing, health insurance, facemasks. The Centre has also asked states to issue guidelines to employers to take care of the needs of migrant workers.

EPFO to pay 8.5% interest for FY20 in two instalments

EPFO to pay 8.5% interest for FY20 in two instalments

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2020

The remaining 0.35 per cent will be credited in December this year, if the EPFO is able to redeem its equity investments.

'Coronavirus strain predominant in India originated in Europe'

'Coronavirus strain predominant in India originated in Europe'

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2020

'Given that the globally most prevalent clade of SARS-CoV-2 is also predominant in India, any vaccine or drug that gets developed in the world should also prove effective in India'

FM to hold review meeting with lenders on loan recast scheme

FM to hold review meeting with lenders on loan recast scheme

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2020

The focus of the meeting will be on enabling businesses and households to avail of the revival framework on the basis of viability, necessary steps like finalising bank policies and identifying borrowers, and discussing issues that require addressing for smooth and speedy implementation.

Why are young Indians dropping out of school?

Why are young Indians dropping out of school?

Rediff.com   24 Aug 2020

One in five students drop out from school.

Covid-19 test in India costs 4 times more than in China

Covid-19 test in India costs 4 times more than in China

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2020

The spending on a typical RT-PCR test would take up 23 per cent of the monthly income of an average Indian, compared to 2 per cent in China. This is one of the deepest cuts in the pocket of an individual, in comparison to 14 other countries, reports Abhishek Waghmare.

Banks to resume wage revision talks with TU leaders on July 22

Banks to resume wage revision talks with TU leaders on July 22

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2020

The current wage revision for PSBs, as well as some private lenders, is due from November 2017 for five years - up to October 2022.

Rural spending has skyrocketed but defence hit badly

Rural spending has skyrocketed but defence hit badly

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2020

Free provision of food, cash transfers, and jobs in villages see enhanced flow of funds despite a precipitous fall in revenue. Till May, defence spend was nearly 30 per cent less than the previous year.

PNB ready to disburse Rs 16,000 crore in loans

PNB ready to disburse Rs 16,000 crore in loans

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2020

'We have already sanctioned loans worth over Rs 3,000 crore to around 120,000 customers.'

Finally some good news for 32 mn construction workers

Finally some good news for 32 mn construction workers

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2020

Apart from Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where none of the estimated 6.7 million construction workers got cash transfer benefits, the coverage of the construction workers was the lowest in Delhi, where only about 5 per cent of the estimated workers received cash under the PMGKY, followed by Kerala and Uttar Pradesh (22 per cent), among major states. In India, construction workers belong to the unorganised sector but account for the highest share of non-farm jobs after manufacturing.

How corrupt are India's contract labour laws?

How corrupt are India's contract labour laws?

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2020

Labour

Retrenched Raymond staff stare at long battle

Retrenched Raymond staff stare at long battle

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2020

The company stated that it was taking steps for cost rationalisation across all businesses to maintain liquidity and due to a prolonged slowdown it had to take a few tough measures.

Fallout of PNB buying Audis for top bosses

Fallout of PNB buying Audis for top bosses

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2020

The Centre has advised banks to make a 20 per cent reduction in expenditure related to non-core business activities, along with deferring "avoidable expenditure" on "purchase of staff cars", "refurbishment of guest houses" and on the interior decoration of administrative and back offices.