The pandemic has thrown governments in a limbo. Administrations across the globe have been struggling to deal with a variety of problems all at once but one of the most urgent issues in hand that the governments cannot ignore is to somehow balance economic survival with well being of its workers. Some countries are handling it better than others.
India's Pro-Capitalist Measures
The Indian Government in the initial days took steps for the beneift of workers when the Home Affairs Ministry issued an order dated 29th February which directed the State/Union Territory Government authorities to make sure that industries and shops keep paying wages without any deduction. After showing encouraging signs the Government pivoted into a pro-industrial and anti-workers stance in no time. As reported by 'The Hindu' on 23rd of April, the Parliamentary Committee on Labour in its report recommended, that the industries should not be forced to pay wages to the workers in case of natural calamities. Around the same time states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat took drastic steps towards worsening of conditions of the workers. Uttar Pradesh took the most drastic of these steps by aboloshing 35 major labour laws preavailing in the state. The Factories Act, the Shops and Commerial Establishments Act and more such laws; all gone. Labour Laws fall under the Concurrent List therefore, the Centre will have a say in this decsion but the occupation of the Centre by the same party in saffron makes experts doubt if there will be any objections to the move at all.
Rest of the world
What makes it more difficult to digest this, is knowing that countries across the globe have been taking pro-labour steps during this pandemic. Canada's federal government on 30th March, 2020 declared plans to subsidise upto 75% of the wages that employers of the country have to pay to their workers. France, which is led by an investment banker as its President is subsidizing 70% of the wages as 'chomage partiel'. Taking a step further, the French government is allowing paid leaves to parents who are unable to work from home because of their responsiblities of taking care of their children below the age of 16. Spain has blocked outright dismissals of workers. In Argentina, workers cannot be fired for the period of 60 days and they have to be paid part of their wages.
While governments across the world map are trying to put up at least a facade to take care of their workers, the Indian government is going all out to occupy the top spot for becoming the destination for companies to exploit labourers to their maximum profit. It's a shame that during a time of global crisis when our Government should be attempting to take care of the worst hit, it is hitting the poor when they are most vulnerable.
