UGC NET/JRF EXAM, MARCH-2023 Labour and Social Welfare

The advisory.committee under the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, is constituted by the Appropriate Government. The Act ensures that there is no discrimination in wages and remuneration between male and female workers for the same work or work of similar nature.

The advisory committee's role is to guide the government on various provisions and implementation of the Act. This committee is essential to ensure that the law is implemented in its true spirit and that gender discrimination in terms of pay is eradicated from the workplace.

Each of these laws has a specific authority or body related to them that ensures their proper implementation. For instance, the Advisory Board under the Minimum Wages Act gives recommendations about fixing and revising minimum wages.

Similarly, the Central Board ensures that provisions related to the Employees' Provident Fund are implemented and adhered to.

The Police Theory of Labour Welfare assumes that in the absence of compulsion and fear of punishment, employers won't provide even the minimum welfare facilities for the workers. It suggests that employers will only take necessary welfare actions if they are compelled by law or fear legal consequences.

This theory is based on the assumption that businesses, driven by profit motives, may neglect workers' welfare unless legally obligated. Although a bit cynical, this theory highlights the importance of laws and regulations in ensuring worker welfare.

Provision of first aid and ambulance services, while crucial in responding to emergencies, is a reactive measure rather than a preventive one for occupational diseases. Occupational diseases arise due to prolonged exposure to certain harmful conditions in the workplace.

Thus, the best preventive measures are those that reduce or eliminate exposure to these harmful conditions. Pre-employment and periodic medical examinations can detect early signs of occupational diseases.

Removal of health hazards and educating workers about health and hygiene can significantly reduce the risk. First aid and ambulance services, on the other hand, are important for immediate medical attention post-accident or in emergency situations.

A fundamental principle in economics is the law of demand. When the price of a good or service decreases, the demand for it generally increases, assuming all other factors remain constant. In the context of labour, if wage rates decrease, the cost of hiring labor for employers goes down.

As a result, employers might be inclined to hire more workers, leading to an upward trend in labor demand. However, it's important to note that while labor might become cheaper, other factors like productivity, training costs, and morale might affect employers' hiring decisions.

One characteristic of the Indian Labour Market is the Productivity of Labour. India's labour market is vast and complex, characterized by a large informal sector, regional variations, and diverse skill sets among workers.

While diversity in the workforce and lack of perfect mobility are traits of the Indian labour market, the productivity of labour isn't a distinguishing characteristic per se.

Rather, it's a variable that can be high or low depending on various factors such as education, training, technology, and management practices. In many sectors, Indian labour productivity is lower compared to global standards, but it is improving with advancements in education, training, and technology.

The ILO's Convention No. 189, adopted at the 100th International Conference in Geneva, is dedicated to ensuring "Decent Work for Domestic Workers." The convention acknowledges the vital role played by domestic workers worldwide and the need for them to have rights and decent working conditions.

Domestic workers often face challenges like long working hours, lack of privacy, low wages, and sometimes, abusive work environments. Convention No. 189 aims to set global standards for the treatment and work conditions of domestic workers, emphasizing their right to fair wages, reasonable work hours, and respectful treatment.

Cyclical Unemployment is the type of unemployment resulting from the natural ebb and flow of the economy over time. As economies go through phases - boom, recession, depression, and recovery - employment levels also fluctuate.

During a boom, businesses expand and hire more workers. However, during recessions or depressions, businesses contract, leading to layoffs and increased unemployment. Once the economy starts recovering, hiring resumes.

Cyclical unemployment is directly related to the overall health of the economy and varies with the economic cycle's different stages. It is distinct from other types of unemployment such as structural (changes in industry or technology) or frictional (time taken to find a new job after leaving the old one).