Somesh Jha &Amp;Amp; Samreen Ahmad

Stories by Somesh Jha &Amp;Amp; Samreen Ahmad

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.com   4 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.

Employees or contractors? Gig workers face social code dilemma

Employees or contractors? Gig workers face social code dilemma

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2020

The Code on Social Security, 2020 gives a lot of comfort to gig firms which recognise cab drivers or food delivery executives as 'independent contractors' who directly do business with customers with the help of their digitised platforms.

From January, consumer goods are likely to cost more by 3-5%

From January, consumer goods are likely to cost more by 3-5%

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2020

Prices of all metals - from steel to copper, aluminium, zinc and lead - have shot up by about 5-11 per cent in the past month. Commodity inflation is raising its head, forcing companies to consider price hikes.

How states are preparing for Covid vaccine distribution

How states are preparing for Covid vaccine distribution

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2020

Each state has its own weak areas that need attention. Some states have already identified the gaps and sought the Centre's help. Vinay Umarji, Ishita Ayan Dutt, Samreen Ahmad and Sohini Das report.

Draft labour rules: No licence for contractors with criminal history

Draft labour rules: No licence for contractors with criminal history

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2020

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

Wipro rewrites growth strategy under new chief Thierry Delaporte

Wipro rewrites growth strategy under new chief Thierry Delaporte

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2020

Under the new model, the IT services firm will replace the current structure of its various strategic business units, service lines and geographies with four strategic market units and two global business lines.

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.com   25 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.com   24 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.

WFH rules simplified! More jobs for small town India

WFH rules simplified! More jobs for small town India

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2020

Tier-II and tier-III towns have a reason to rejoice.

Byju's raises $200 mn in fresh funding; valuation surges to $12 bn

Byju's raises $200 mn in fresh funding; valuation surges to $12 bn

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2020

While BlackRock is an existing investor in Byju's, T Rowe joined as a new investor.

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

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

Rediff.com   17 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.com   14 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.

PUBG to return to India with new game, $100 mn investment, better security

PUBG to return to India with new game, $100 mn investment, better security

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2020

The company is also planning to create an Indian subsidiary to enhance communications and services with players for which it will hire over 100 employees specialising in business, e-sports, and game development.

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.com   5 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.

How start-ups are helping kirana stores go digital to manage business

How start-ups are helping kirana stores go digital to manage business

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2020

Start-ups such as Max Wholesale, Jumbotail and ShopKirana are helping them place orders, maintain inventory, optimise delivery routes and make payments, all digitally.

How Indus, the Made in India app store, took wing

How Indus, the Made in India app store, took wing

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2020

The content discovery platform designed to help you discover content and services in the language of your choice recently turned profitable. It has delivered 1 billion application installs and updates in the past 12 months, says Samreen Ahmad.

Looking to go omnichannel, BigBasket may seal deal with Tatas

Looking to go omnichannel, BigBasket may seal deal with Tatas

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2020

The competition which BigBasket faces now is with the big three - Amazon, Walmart, and Reliance.

Reskill or refund: Retrenched workers face Hobson's choice

Reskill or refund: Retrenched workers face Hobson's choice

Rediff.com   20 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.com   16 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.com   13 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.