6. EMPLOYMENT: GROWTH, INFORMALISATION AND OTHER ISSUES

People do a variety of work. Some work on farms, in factories, banks, shops and many other workplaces; yet a few others work at home. Work at home includes not only traditional work like weaving, lace making or a variety of handicrafts but also modern jobs like programming work in the IT industry. Earlier factory work meant working in factories located in cities whereas now technology has enabled people to produce those factory-based goods at home in villages. During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020–21, millions of workers delivered their products and services through work-from-home.

In this section, we start by understanding the various kinds of work that people do. Work can be found in diverse settings such as farms, factories, banks, and shops. Additionally, with advancements in technology, working from home has become increasingly common. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many individuals adapted their jobs to be executed from their homes. This shows how flexibility in work types has evolved.

Consider a farmer who once had to travel to a market to sell his produce. Now, he can simply post his goods online and sell them from home. This shift reflects how technology has changed not just where we work but also how we connect with consumers.

Why do people work? Work plays an important role in our lives as individuals and as members of society. People work for ‘earning’ a living. Some people get, or have, money by inheriting it, not working for it. This does not completely satisfy anybody. Being employed in work gives us a sense of self-worth and enables us to relate ourselves meaningfully with others.

This chunk discusses why work is fundamental to our existence. Individuals often seek work to earn money, which is essential for survival. Beyond financial needs, work also contributes to one's identity and self-worth. People find a sense of purpose and connection with others through their jobs.

Think of a teacher who, through her work, not only earns a salary but also shapes young minds and contributes to society. This role gives her a sense of identity beyond just needing a paycheck.

When we also consider what we pay for our imports and get from our exports we find that there is a net earning for the country which may be positive (if we have exported more in value terms than imported) or negative (if imports exceeded exports in value terms) or zero (if exports and imports were of the same value). Those activities which contribute to the gross national product are called economic activities.

Here, we learn the definitions of key terms such as gross national product (GNP) and economic activities. Economic activities refer to all jobs contributing to the nation’s output, essentially involving any work aiming to earn an income. The section explains further how net earnings from exports and imports affect national productivity.

Consider a local craftsman who sells his handmade pottery both within the country and abroad. The pottery sold overseas counts as an export, adding positively to the country's GNP, showcasing how local work impacts national wealth.

Men form the majority of the workforce in India. About 77 per cent of the workers are men and the rest are women (men and women include child labourers in respective sexes). Women workers account for one-fourth of the rural workforce whereas in urban areas, they are just one-fifth of the workforce.

The chunk highlights the significant gender gap in the workforce. It states that men make up a larger percentage of the workforce across both rural and urban areas, illustrating persistent societal norms that can limit women's participation in certain types of employment.

Imagine two towns: one (a rural area) where women are often found in fields, helping with farm work without pay, and another (an urban area) where women might work in offices but face barriers in certain professional fields. This contrast reflects the broader trends in gender roles across different settings in India.

There are three main categories: self-employed, casual workers, and regular salaried employees. Self-employed individuals own and operate their enterprises while casual workers get paid on a daily or temporary basis, and salaried employees enjoy stable, regular contracts. Each category has its characteristics which affect job stability and the earnings associated with them.

This section categorizes workers based on their employment status: self-employed individuals run their own businesses, casual workers take on temporary jobs often without benefits, while regular employees have stable jobs with consistent pay. Each category plays a vital role in the economy but offers different levels of job security and benefits.

Think of an individual who runs a small bakery (self-employed), a daily wage worker at a construction site (casual), and a bank manager with a steady monthly salary (salaried employee). Each represents a different job sector, showcasing how varied employment can be.

The informal sector includes millions of farmers, agricultural labourers, owners of small enterprises, and people working in those enterprises as well as the self-employed who do not have any hired workers. Informal sector jobs often lack the security and benefits afforded in the formal sector.

The informal sector is defined here, highlighting the numerous workers engaged without the legal protections that formal jobs often provide. This means many people work without benefits like health insurance or job security, illustrating a vulnerable segment of the workforce.

Consider street vendors who sell food and goods without official business licenses; they often work in unpredictable conditions and without any formal backup if something goes wrong, unlike employees in a regulated restaurant.

The government, through its various initiatives, works to create jobs directly by employing people in various departments or indirectly by stimulating the economy. For example, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act provides guaranteed wage work to rural households.

This section covers governmental strategies aimed at job creation. Economic stimuli can lead to more opportunities across different sectors, especially impacting rural employment. Government initiatives like the MGNREGA are designed to support families in need while also promoting local infrastructure.

Think of the MGNREGA program as a safety net that ensures a worker, who might otherwise struggle in rural areas, has a guaranteed source of income, fostering community development and livelihood security.

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