- That the pandemic-induced economic meltdown ravaged the economy of every country needs no further emphasis. As a consequence, the labour market suffered tremendous upheaval in the absence of adequate jobs and employment opportunities for millions of eligible workers. We have all seen firsthand how the brutal lockdown in India caused migrant workers to endure unimaginable suffering. Although the Union Government provided migrant workers with free meals for a very long period, removing them from their places of employment to provide for their subsistence respectably did provide enormous difficulties. But, millions of people are still working to find their footing following those turbulent times.
PC: freepik
- Yes, the Indian economy appears to be gaining strength by the day. Of course, the Indian economy is touted as the fastest-growing in the world. But there are still issues of grave concern requiring greater attention from the authorities. Particularly, employment creation and job prospects fall short of the needs of the labour force, which is growing more and more impatient as a result of unmet expectations. According to the statistics provided by the Union Government, the situation has improved significantly. But, it seems as though there are few employment options in reality. The manufacturing industry is still behind. Even if the hospitality and services industries are beginning to strengthen. The agriculture sector is stagnant.
- Against this backdrop, the strike by delivery executives of quick commerce platform Blinkit in the national capital region is another grim reminder of the wider economy’s job problem. The protest is over Blinkit’s revised rates and benefits that drastically reduce minimum earnings on orders. This isn’t the first such incident in recent times. Recall how last year food delivery platform Swiggy faced similar protests by its delivery executives across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai after it introduced a revised pay structure. Partly, this is related to the way tech-driven commerce platforms operate. Most of them aren’t profitable and depend on investor capital. When investors demand profits or cash runs thin, expect cuts in pay and benefits for their delivery executives.
PC: freepik
- Yes, any business should have the freedom to revise its business operation. The real problem here is the lack of steady non-farm jobs. That’s what makes even insecure gig economy jobs so attractive. It makes sense given that the majority of newly generated positions in the country are for independent contractors. That is to say, not enough paying positions are being created. Hence, delivery managers are in a difficult situation. The alternative for many young people entering the workforce is between returning to their villages for useless farm work or choosing low-paying gig work with poor working conditions. In conclusion, The economy needs to create many more regular jobs for the burgeoning workforce, especially in the manufacturing and services sectors.
