Karnataka: Government approves construction of ‘suvidha cabins’ for sanitation workers
24 January,, 2022: Karnataka state government approved the budget for construction of 221 canteens equipped with washroom and changing rooms for sanitation workers called ‘suvidha cabins’. The city municipal corporation employs over 18,000 contract Safai karmcharis of which over 70% are women who are devoid toilets and forced to eat their meals in unhygienic conditions.
Haryana: Government exempts start-ups, IT companies from job reservation law for 2 years
19 January, 2022: Three days after the the Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020 came into effect mandating 75% job reservation for workers with Haryana domicile in private sector jobs, the government exempted start-ups and IT/ITES companies for two years.
Union cabinet approves extension of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis for three years
19 January, 2022: The Union Cabinet approved three-year extension of the tenure of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis that was set to end on 31 March, 2022. The commission monitors the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
Odisha: Government revises wages of prisoners after High Court intervenes
15 January, 2022: Odisha government revised the wages for under- trial prisoners and convicts across its 87 jails after High Court rapped it for discrimination against prison labour and violating minimum wages act. Prisoners will now get paid at par with other workers in the state and receive Rs. 324, Rs. 274 and Rs. 234 respectively for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled work after deduction of Rs. 81.49 per day towards maintenance cost.
Government proposes new law to regulate tea industry
11 January, 2022: Centre proposed Tea (Promotion and Development) Act, 2022 which would repeal the existing Tea Act, 1953. The proposed act severely dilutes punitive powers vested in the current Tea Board including Section 16 which empowered it to take over the tea estate in case of mismanagement. The new act does away with the requirement of licensing from the Tea Board for running a tea estate.
