Context: Recently, a fire broke out at Delhi’s Mundka, with a death toll of 27 persons so far. A majority of the persons who died in the incidents were women workers in informal manufacturing units. 

What issues have been exposed the fire incident in our urban areas?

• The reports on buildings catching fire leading to fatalities exposes the picture of illegal constructions and unplanned infrastructural development in urban centres.  The buildings do not have required fire clearance and no-objection certificates (NOC) from concerned authorities. For example, the norms of construction were not followed in the building involved in the Mundka mishap.  
• The incident underscores the invisibilities and insecurities of informal workers in the city. This shows the lack of identity of informal sector workers. 
• Although enquiry commissions are instituted and assurances are made of tightening procedures. But no substantial change takes place at the ground level. Such incidents keep on repeating.  
• There are thousands of unregistered/informal industrial units functional in cities like Delhi. These workplaces violate all norms, including basic labour laws.  

What is the nature of informal industrial units in urban areas? 

• Working conditions: There are extremely poor working conditions, like Poorly ventilated workplaces, dilapidated buildings and violation of even the basic norms of occupational safety requirements, shady and stingy rooms, inadequate safety precautions, the provision of drinking water and toilet facilities are often denied to workers  
• The quality of jobs is very poor in the informal establishments, especially for women. For example, long working hours, absence of any leave, including maternity leave, dusty among other things. 
• Most of the workers are young in their 20s or 30s. They are migrants with poor economic conditions. They are forced to join the labour market in low-paid and highly-informal jobs. 
• There is often a clear separation of tasks for men and women. Women workers are involved in packing or as helpers that are the lowest skilled. 
• Wages are kept very low in the informal units because the labour pool remains massive and the job profiles do not require much skill. The living expenses have soared. Thus, a dignified life is beyond imagination. Many women workers are often the sole earners or primary earners of their households.  
• Due covid-induced resultant decline in work opportunities and household income, women are compelled to join employment to compensate for the loss of employment or declined income of male household members.  
• There is poor enforcement of the labour laws by the enforcement machinery as the corruption has entered into administration. 

What are the consequences of such an informal sector? 

• There are limited opportunities for personal or economic advancement, with monotonous repetitive work filling the day. The conditions expose the issues in economic empowerment of women. 

Key issues in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSHWC)

• There are anxieties that the new labour codes will add to the vulnerability of informal workers. 
• The code has left the compliance to the small units themselves. They will follow prescribed safety conditions themselves. This can go unaccountable. 

Road Ahead

• The accountability of employers should be increased. In addition, the political will can improve working conditions. 

By: Shubham Tiwari