CBT215 | Beyond the Four Labour Codes for Unorganised Labour

This elective course will focus on policy issues mainly addressing the failure of the Indian State to protect millions of unorganised labour. (The basic premise that good laws must be preceded by good policies behind it, will inform the course)

To understand this policy failure the Meta narrative of four different periods, from the colonial to the neo-colonial (neoliberal) and beyond will be studied to understand why labour policies for the unorganised have failed to render justice to the millions despite the Constitutional promise. (Especially as regards the mandate contained in Art.37)

Keeping the focus on unorganised labour we will examine whether there is a policy crisis and a consequent void responsible for the absence of adequate legal protection for the unorganised workers exposing them to aggravated forms of precarity.

Does the present period of crisis in neoliberalism (collapse of the WTO, crass violation of human rights in war and conflict torn regions of the world, ineffectiveness of the UN system, etc.) along with the emergence of contrarian political views in the federal body politic offer new possibilities for bottom up intervention in favour of ordinary citizens, of whom 85% are from the Marginalised and excluded humanity.

Are there new signs of hope for these excluded and marginalised working people of India and if so what is on the anvil? (Gig & Platform workers is a good case in Point)