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

Maternity benefits and Benevolent Fund are not strictly amenities or welfare provisions within the precincts of an establishment. Latrines and Urinals, Creches are considered essential amenities, especially in establishments that employ a large number of employees.

These provide basic hygiene and care facilities. On the other hand, Maternity benefits relate to the protection of the employment of women during the time of her maternity and it mandates full payment during her absence.

A Benevolent Fund, generally, is established to provide financial assistance to employees in times of need. Whife both these provisions are welfare measures, they are not tangible amenities within the physical space of the establishment.

Industrial accidents come with both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are easily measurable and include medical expenses, compensation, and repair costs. Indirect costs are harder to quantify but can be more impactful.

Time lost from work by the injured employee, loss in earning power, and damage to tools and equipment are direct consequences of accidents. Paperwork, while tedious, refers to administrative tasks required post-accident, and legal issues could arise if there are disputes over the cause or responsibility of the accident.

Both are considered indirect costs as they don't directly tie to the accident's immediate damage but are consequences of it. Since there are so many ifs and buts related with these two options (d and e). So we can choose them as right answer.

Labour turnover refers to the number of employees that leave an organization and are replaced by new employees. Resignation and dismissals are avoidable causes of labour turnover. Organizations can often control these by improving workplace conditions, offering better remuneration, and establishing clear workplace policies.

Dissatisfaction with wage/salary or working environment can be addressed through better HR policies, communication, and management practices. On the other hand, unavoidable causes like retirement and death are beyond the control of organizations. Redundancy might be considered unavoidable in some cases, especially if it's due to economic or technological reasons.

Absenteeism can affect both the individual employee and the organization. From the perspective of the individual, frequent absenteeism can lead to a loss in earnings, especially if there's no paid leave policy. It can also hamper career prospects as it might be perceived as a lack of commitment or unreliability.

On a personal level, it could also lead to decreased productivity and a feeling of being out of the loop. On the other hand, industries or companies suffer losses due to decreased overall efficiency, having to possibly hire temporary staff or pay overtime to others to cover the tasks of the absent employee, leading to additional expenses.

So, while industries suffer loss and organizational efficiency is affected, these are effects on the organization and not the individual.

Labour migration predominantly occurs due to economic reasons. People move in search of better employment opportunities, higher wages, and in some cases, better facilities and infrastructure that might indirectly lead to better economic prospects.

Marriage is a social cause for migration, as individuals might move to be with their spouse or because of the customs associated with marriage. Social discriminations can force individuals or groups to migrate to areas where they feel safer or more accepted, making it more of a social cause than purely economic.

Economic reasons are primarily linked to the pursuit of a better quality of life through financial improvements, while social reasons may encompass a wider range of personal and community-based factors.

The definitions provided in the statements are incorrect. Efficiency refers to achieving a goal with the least amount of resources, i.e., doing things right. Effectiveness, on the other hand, is about achieving objectives or doing the right things.

The emphasis for efficiency is on optimization, minimizing wastage, and maximizing output with the given inputs. Effectiveness emphasizes achieving desired outcomes or goals, regardless of the resources used. An organization can be effective by achieving its objectives but not efficient if it wastes resources in the process.

The first statement is correct. Job rotation is a method used by organizations to give employees a broader perspective on the company. It involves moving employees through a range of jobs to enhance their experience and skills. This helps in multifaceted development and keeps monotony at bay. The second statement, however, is not entirely accurate.

While simulation exercises do involve using equipment or tools in a simulated environment, they don't always have to be the same as the ones used in the actual job. Simulations are designed to replicate certain aspects of the job environment to provide training, practice, or assessment opportunities without the risks or costs associated with the real environment.

The concept where organizations employ workers from a foreign country to perform certain tasks that were traditionally performed in-house by domestic employees is called "Offshoring." This strategy iss often adopted to take advantage of lower labor costs, specialized skill sets, or other economic benefits provided by the foreign country.

Offshoring has been a significant trend in the globalization era, with many companies setting up offshore centers or hiring thirdparty vendors in countries like India, the Philippines, and others for 'IT services, customer support, and more.

Both statements are mixed up. "Social Loafing" refers to the phenomenon where individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone. This can happen for various reasons, such as the belief that others will pick up the slack, or feeling that their individual contribution won't be recognized.

"Groupthink," on the other hand, is a dysfunction in highly cohesive groups where the desire for harmony and consensus leads to poor decision-making processes. Members might suppress dissenting viewpoints, leading to a lack of critical analysis or evaluation of alternative ideas.

ssertion (A) seems to take a skeptical stance on unions, stating that they don't partake in any developmental activities and need to redefine their roles. While some critics argue that unions focus too much on protests and nou enough on constructive solutions, this blanket statement is not universally true. Many unions around the world engage in developmental activities and initiatives.

Reason (R) discusses the consolidation of workers for struggle against exploiters. While it acknowledges the power and potential of worker unions, it doesn't directly explain the assertion. The two statements provide different perspectives on the roles and objectives of unions, but (R) isn't a direct explanation for (A).