What : A study was conducted by All Indian Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) in collaboration with other trade unions on unorganized sector labour conditions in Karnataka.

Observations

Labourers:

• Are reeling under a triple crisis:

1. lack of access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic
2. lack of food security
3. depleted earnings

• Live in densely populated slums and colonies with inadequate hygiene, even as most workplaces have failed to provide masks, sanitisers and other aid for COVID-19 prevention.
• Suffered a loss of income, but those working on delivery platforms like Ola, Uber and street vendors have been affected more than monthly wage workers

Recommendations

THE REPORT:

• The government carry out regular fumigation of these areas and organise free testing and vaccination camps at these localities. The authors underscored the importance of taking such measures as they found there was hesitation to get tested and vaccinated.
• Augmentation of public health infrastructure and universal free treatment for COVID-19, while recommending a compensation of ₹10 lakh for families living below the poverty line who have lost a member to COVID-19.
• The government announce a COVID-19 compensation package for all labourers and vulnerable groups, including those with a salary of less than ₹15,000, apart from a risk allowance of ₹10,000 for all health and frontline workers. The government must ensure there is no termination of employment, and set up helplines for workers with payment issues, it noted.
• Setting up of community kitchens and a hunger helpline like in the previous year.
• State government immediately start distributing ration kits and implement Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana to all persons in PDS shops without insisting on ration cards, and ensure provision of 10 kg of rice.

Note- The recommendation can be mentioned in essay questions related to Labour