Multiply Urban ‘Growth Engines’, Encourage Migration to Reboot Economy

JJN’s Sabina Dewan writes on the urgent need to bridge the gap between growth and quality of jobs for the Indian working-age population. Labour market in India is failing to generate enough high-quality jobs for its large and growing population; at the same time employers struggle to find workers with the right skills for the job openings they have. Highlighting the growing extent of precarity in the nature of available work in the country, she makes the case for adopting a ground-up approach for job creation.

JJN’s Sabina Dewan writes on the expanding e-commerce ecosystem in India and its effect on MSMEs of the country. From the perspective of micro, small and medium enterprises, that are dealing with tech disruptions to stay in business and the 111 million jobs they support, she calls for appropriate and effective regulations to enable more inclusive growth of e-commerce.

While tech platforms have eased our lives, too little attention is paid to a growing inequity. Capital gets to multiply, but gig workers are left at a disadvantage as they’re not treated as employees and lack labour protection under the law. This capital-labour imbalance needs to be addressed.

As global labour markets continue to undergo transition induced by rapid technological advancement and climate change, there is not enough research that captures the diverse experiences of the Global South. The FutureWORKS Collective, funded by IDRC Canada, is a consortium of research organisations that will fill this lacuna. The JustJobs Network is proud to be the coordinator of this initiative that underscores the urgency of adapting research and policies to the realities of the Global South.

Bihar’s unconventional urbanisation is not characterised by the development of industrial hubs that generally characterise the process of urbanisation. Despite being famous for its out-migration, Bihar is experiencing something that the author describes as “urbanisation from within” i.e. the natural growth and densification of small towns and villages, increased population density and a shift from agriculture to non-farm activities. This article points out challenges in this form of urbanisation and suggests changes that will transform these urbanising villages into centers of job-rich economic development.

As the Union Government of India presents its interim budget, Sabina Dewan reviews the state of the country's labour market, and related policies. Theincrease in overall labour force participation is largely driven by an increase in rural female labour force participation, and comes against a backdrop of heighted rural distress with a consistent decline in inflation-adjusted real wages over the last five years. In light of shifting demographics, technological upheaval, climate change, and the pandemic, she makes the case for a robust policy response codified in a national employment strategy that can foster an ecosystem conducive to the growth of good jobs.

A government initiative to promote conservation and build climate resilience, the GREEN Meghalaya scheme is based on the payment for ecosystems model (PES). This article introduces the PES model and poses inquiries about its operation and implementation, especially against the changing landscape of forest conservation in India.

In the wake of the ongoing climate crises, what would energy transition mean for economies and labour markets around the world? Sabina Dewan discusses how developing countries like India, with large and growing youth populations, are facing immense pressure to manage energy transition which will restructure labour markets and have significant economic, political and social ramifications. She presents the interlinkages and ripple effects of a transition to geener energy alternates on migration patterns, household income structures, skilling requirements and job creation.

The article highlights challenges transgender individuals encounter in workplaces and society. It emphasises holistic recognition by linking food, shelter, and employment for inclusive efforts in their livelihoods.

The newly enacted law to reserve one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures could advance gender equality in India. Certain conditions however need to be met to ensure that numerical representation translates to substantive representation.

The success of UWEI and MUKTA, Odisha’s initiatives to curb pandemic-induced urban employment could well be the blueprint for a National Urban Employment Guarantee Act that emphasizes worker security, community involvement and a gender-inclusive design.

The building and construction sector in India is marred with inherent contradictions – it is at once an employment generator and a highly polluting sector. It stresses the question: How do we balance human needs without compromising earth systems?