Decent Work And Industrial Relations In Gurgaon Case Study

Decent Work and Industrial Relations in Gurgaon:
For this study a total of 8 representatives from the below Organizations were interviewed:
1. Provisional Working Committee – Maruti Suzuki Workers Union
2. Mazdoor Ekta Manch
3. Garment and Allied Workers Union
4. Automobile Industry Contract Workers Union
5. Hind Mazdoor Sabha
The primary data was collected through semi structured interviews oriented towards the Decent Work agenda and its application in their appropriate industry.
Secondary data includes online articles, past thesis and publications on the subject.
Seven out of these eight representatives were working in one of the below mentioned companies:
1. Two major garment exporters to some of the big retail giants in the US
2. Two major
“We were given a single set of gloves, and were told to wash them after the day’s work”, recollects a representative. Another representative mentioned extremely long shifts where a “single-rate” overtime was provided and the job included lifting a seat weighing 7Kg to the metallic body of the automobile. In a typical day, 300 such seats were attached by the individual. Due to high cost of living in Gurgaon, it was mentioned that working a weekly overtime of 20-30 hours was a norm. Often, overtimes are not recorded by the supervisor on the job card and it is realized by the worker at the end of the month only.
Every representative but one, mentioned the abysmal conditions of the washrooms and latrines and how the employer wasn’t doing enough in keeping them clean.
None of the representatives mentioned the presence of a crèche/baby-care facility on their premises,
“There is a room, but it is filled with cardboard boxes. The room is cleaned and filled with soft toys if an audit is about to happen.”
It was also mentioned by the female representative that there is a sense of awkwardness among the female workers in asking their supervisor for a rest-break if they are not feeling well. As per the representative, companies should have a “no-questions-asked” practice if a female worker feels the need to rest.
(2015, July 22). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from www.pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=123563
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