DECENT WORK DEFICIT IN INDIA

Abstract

Decent work is one of the fundamental dimensions of the quality of life, as a large part of our lifetime is spent on working. Besides, this gives a sense of fulfilment and dignity. Apart from this, according to International Labour Organization, decent work is central to sustainable poverty reduction and is a means for achieving equitable, inclusive and sustainable development. This article is an attempt to measure the extent of decent work in India with the help of certain dimensions and indicators developed by International Labour Organization on decent work. It is based on Government of India’s published data mainly on four quinquennial rounds: 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2004–05 and 2009–10. This article fundamentally suggests that there is a deficit in decent work in India, and over time, this deficit is increasing. Apart from this, there exist rural-urban gaps as well as gender gaps and most of these gaps are increasing over time. Besides, the condition of even the regular salaried/wage workers seems to be poor in terms of social security benefits and the freedom of association. It is also found out that though the growth in the service sectors and the organised manufacturing sectors may contribute to the quantity of employment, but from the perspectives of quality like social security and social dialogue of the regular salaried/wage workers, it seems to have negative and significant effect. This article finds out that growth may not be sufficient to ensure quality of employment in genera