Content
- Exploited workers, a labour policy’s empty promises
- Act of evil
Exploited workers, a labour policy’s empty promises
Why in News ?
- The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has released the draft “Shram Shakti Niti 2025”, projecting it as India’s “future-ready” labour and employment policy for a “Viksit Bharat”.
- It comes amid rising evidence of forced labour, informalisation, and exploitation in multiple sectors — particularly seafood, textile, and construction — exposing gaps in India’s labour protection regime.
- India currently houses ~11 million people in modern slavery (ILO 2024) — the highest globally, highlighting the urgency for a just and enforceable labour framework.
Relevance:
- GS 2 (Governance, Social Justice):
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections (workers, informal sector).
- Role of government policies and interventions in social justice.
- Constitutional provisions: Articles 14, 15, 19, 21, 41.
- Labour rights, social security, and gender inclusion.
- GS 3 (Economy):
- Employment generation and skill development.
- Future of work in AI and digital economy.
- Informalisation and its macroeconomic implications.
- GS 4 (Ethics):
- Dignity of labour, just transition, corporate ethics.
Practice Question:
- “Digitalisation of labour welfare without strengthening ground-level enforcement may create a ‘paper paradise’ of rights.” Discuss in light of the Draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025.(250 Words)
Context and Ground Reality
- Investigations reveal rampant exploitation of informal and female labour:
- Women in seafood processing plants reclassified as “daily wagers” to deny PF/ESI benefits.
- Wages stagnant despite inflation; long hours, no gloves, no safety standards.
- ~90% of India’s workforce is informally employed (ILO, 2024).
- Forced labour, contract fraud, and unsafe conditions persist in:
- Steel and textile sectors (West/North India)
- Quarrying and seafood sectors (East/South India)
Core Provisions of Draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025
- Universal Social Security Account (USSA):
- Integrates EPFO, ESIC, PM-JAY, e-SHRAM, and state welfare boards into a portable account covering health, pension, maternity, and accident insurance.
- Draws on Article 41 (Right to work, education, and assistance).
- AI-driven National Career Service (NCS):
- Job matching, credential verification, and skill mapping, especially for Tier-II/III cities and MSMEs.
- Targets 91.75% graduate skill mismatch through integration with Skill India Mission.
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSH):
- Enforces Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
- “Near-zero workplace fatalities by 2047” target.
- Gender-sensitive risk audits aligned with ILO Convention 155.
- Green Transition & AI Vision:
- Promotes AI-based safety systems, reskilling coal workers, and climate-aligned jobs under SDG-13 (Climate Action).
- Labour and Employment Policy Evaluation Index (LEPEI):
- A digital dashboard to monitor state-wise implementation and convergence with NEP and Digital India.
Claimed Objectives
- “Future-ready workforce” blending ancient Indian ethos with modern governance.
- “Ease of living” for workers and “ease of doing business” for employers.
- 35% female labour force participation by 2030 (from 33.7% in 2024).
- Leverage AI and digital systems to make social protection portable and inclusive.
Major Concerns and Critiques
a. Digital Exclusion
- Only 38% household literacy limits access to digital systems like USSA/e-SHRAM.
- Risk of exclusion of women, elderly, and low-literates, violating Articles 14 & 15.
- Lack of offline access mechanisms undermines universal reach.
b. Informalisation & Labour Rights
- Contractualisation and gig work continue without regulation.
- No clear employer funding or state matching for social security — risking collapse of existing e-SHRAM payouts.
- Weak penalties → encourages “employer ease” over worker justice.
c. Union & Collective Bargaining
- Absence of union safeguards erodes bargaining power.
- Article 19 rights (association, speech) weakened by surveillance under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA).
- Decline of unions = decline of accountability.
d. Gender Equity Gaps
- While aiming for higher FLFP, no quotas or penalties for non-compliance.
- Informal women workers excluded from maternity and childcare support.
- Ignores intersectional vulnerabilities of Dalit, Adivasi, and gig women workers.
e. Implementation Deficit
- Target of “zero fatalities by 2047” unrealistic given shortage of 70% safety inspectors (MoLE, 2024).
- Weak grievance redressal, underfunded inspection systems.
- No timeline for tripartite enforcement (State–Employer–Worker).
Constitutional and Legal Dimensions
| Provision | Constitutional/Legal Link | Concern |
| Universal Social Security | Article 41, DPSPs | Unfunded, risks exclusion |
| Gender equality & FLFP | Articles 14, 15, 16 | Weak gender enforcement |
| Forced labour prohibition | Article 23 | Informalisation enables covert forced labour |
| Worker safety | Article 42, ILO 155 | Poor enforcement, limited penalties |
| Union rights | Article 19(1)(c) | Digital surveillance & weak union role |
International and Global Benchmarks
- ILO Convention 29 (Forced Labour) – India ratified but enforcement weak.
- OECD Just Transition Framework – absent in India’s green policy.
- ILO Convention 195 – promotes equal mobility; policy lacks enforcement architecture.
- India’s rank (Global Slavery Index 2024): 1st with 11 million modern slaves.
Way Forward
- Tripartite enforcement model: Central, State, and Union participation in funding and audits.
- Offline grievance redressal & multilingual access to social security platforms.
- Union-vetted AI algorithms to prevent caste/gender bias in job allocation.
- Independent ethics audits for gig platforms.
- Dedicated fund for informal and transitional workers (especially women and migrants).
- Integration with SDG 8 (Decent Work) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) for coherent labour–climate synergy.
Broader Implications
- Political: Moves labour regulation toward a more centralised, tech-mediated structure — risk of bureaucratic control over rights.
- Economic: Potential to formalise welfare delivery if funded adequately; else, digital optics without substance.
- Social: Without union and offline inclusion, policy could deepen inequality in India’s already stratified labour market.
Conclusion
The Draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025 aspires to reimagine India’s workforce for “Amrit Kaal”, but risks becoming a “digital mirage” if rights remain unenforced and the informal majority stays excluded.
True “future-readiness” will depend not on portals and dashboards, but on penalties, funding, and participation that uphold dignity, equity, and justice — the true essence of Shram Shakti.
Act of evil
Why in News ?
- On November 9, 2025, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 14 Tamil Nadu fishermen for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) near the Palk Bay.
- This adds to a recurring maritime dispute — with 128 Indian fishermen and several boats currently under Sri Lankan custody (as per TN CM’s letter to EAM S. Jaishankar).
- The issue exposes the longstanding India–Sri Lanka fishing conflict, aggravated by bottom trawling, ecological destruction, and livelihood dependence on unsustainable practices.
Relevance:
- GS 2 (International Relations):
- India–Sri Lanka bilateral relations.
- Maritime boundary agreements (1974, 1976) and their socio-political impact.
- Cross-border issues and diplomacy in neighbourhood policy.
- GS 3 (Environment & Economy):
- Sustainable fisheries management.
- Marine ecology and livelihood sustainability.
- Blue economy and deep-sea fishing initiatives.
- GS 1 (Geography):
- Physical geography of Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar, and marine ecosystems.
Practice Question:
- The Palk Bay dispute reflects the tension between ecological sustainability and livelihood dependence. Analyse the diplomatic and economic measures India should pursue to resolve it sustainably.(250 Words)
Historical and Geographical Context
- Palk Bay, a narrow stretch (~137 km wide) separating Tamil Nadu and Northern Sri Lanka, has historically been a shared fishing ground.
- The IMBL was formalised in 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka, ceding Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka.
- Tamil Nadu fishermen, citing traditional rights, continue to cross the IMBL for rich fishing grounds.
- The Northern Province fishermen, recovering from decades of civil war, depend heavily on local marine resources for subsistence.
Nature of the Current Dispute
- Frequent arrests and boat seizures by the Sri Lankan Navy — viewed as a violation of livelihood rights by India and sovereignty by Sri Lanka.
- Tamil Nadu fishermen use mechanised trawlers for bottom trawling — dragging weighted nets along the seabed to collect shrimp and small fish.
- Environmental damage:
- Destroys coral reefs and benthic ecosystems.
- Leads to fish stock depletion and shrimp habitat loss.
- Reduces long-term productivity of the Palk Bay ecosystem.
- Sri Lankan fishermen, who use sustainable gill nets and small boats, suffer ecological and economic losses.
Ecological and Socio-Economic Dimensions
| Aspect | Impact |
| Bottom Trawling | Depletes fish stocks, damages coral, releases carbon from seabed. |
| Livelihood Dependence | ~2 lakh TN fishermen rely on Palk Bay fisheries. |
| Sri Lankan Side | ~25,000 Northern fishermen impacted; post-war livelihoods under stress. |
| Economic Loss | India loses ~₹200 crore annually due to boat seizures and fines. |
| Environmental Cost | Severe decline in shrimp catch and coral cover (CMFRI, 2023). |
Diplomatic & Policy Developments
- Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries met in Colombo (Oct 29, 2024) — reaffirmed commitment to sustainable fishing and humane treatment of arrested fishermen.
- Track-II initiatives:
- March 2025: Fisher leaders from Rameswaram and Jaffna held informal talks — no official sanction.
- Political stance:
- The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna-led NPP government in Sri Lanka has adopted a hardline position, delaying resolution.
- India’s approach:
- Focus on release diplomacy and rehabilitation of arrested fishermen.
- Push for deep-sea fishing transition schemes (e.g., Blue Revolution, Sagarmala).
Key Challenges
a. Ecological
- Overexploitation of coastal fisheries; destruction of coral beds and breeding zones.
- Loss of biodiversity in Gulf of Mannar — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
b. Economic
- High fuel cost and debt traps drive fishermen toward short, intensive trawling voyages.
- Deep-sea fishing transition schemes underutilised due to high capital costs and training gaps.
c. Diplomatic
- Unresolved boundary perceptions and domestic political sensitivities in Tamil Nadu and Colombo hinder long-term settlement.
d. Humanitarian
- Recurring arrests, detention, and confiscation cause psychological distress and loss of livelihood.
- Lack of joint humanitarian protocol for fishermen’s safe release.
Expert Recommendations and Sustainable Alternatives
- Gradual phase-out of bottom trawling with targeted economic support.
- India–Sri Lanka Marine Research Station in Palk Bay:
- Joint studies on marine regeneration, coral restoration, and fish breeding.
- Equitable Fishing Quotas:
- Learn from EU Baltic model — cooperative resource sharing based on stock assessment.
- Deep-Sea Fishing Incentives:
- Liberal assistance schemes and subsidised vessel conversion for Tamil Nadu fishermen.
- Joint Patrolling & Communication Hotlines to prevent escalation and accidental trespassing.
Constitutional and Legal Dimensions
| Aspect | Legal Reference | Implication |
| Maritime Sovereignty | UNCLOS, 1982 | Violations invite diplomatic liability. |
| Livelihood Rights | Article 21 | Fishermen’s right to life includes livelihood security. |
| Environmental Duty | Article 48A, 51A(g) | State and citizens must protect marine ecology. |
| Cooperative Federalism | Centre–State coordination (TN & MEA) essential for policy coherence. |
Comparative Lessons
- EU Baltic Fisheries Framework: quota-based sharing to prevent depletion.
- Indo-Bangladesh Enclaves Model (2015): successful through sustained negotiation and humane diplomacy.
- Sri Lanka–Maldives Fisheries Accord: cooperative marine surveillance reducing conflicts.
Way Forward
- Diplomatic: Institutionalise annual Joint Fisheries Dialogue with implementation timelines.
- Economic:
- Expand Deep-Sea Fishing Subsidy Scheme with assured market linkages.
- Support alternative livelihoods (seaweed, mariculture, eco-tourism).
- Technological: Introduce GPS-enabled alert systems to prevent IMBL trespass.
- Environmental: Enforce ban on destructive trawling, promote selective gear usage.
- Community: Build cross-border fishermen cooperatives for trust and joint conservation.
Conclusion
The Palk Bay fishing conflict is not merely a maritime boundary issue but a complex interplay of ecology, economy, and emotion.
For durable peace and prosperity, India must lead by example — banning bottom trawling, investing in sustainable fisheries, and rebuilding trust with Northern Sri Lankan fishermen.
True diplomacy here lies not in maritime muscle, but in marine stewardship — turning conflict waters into shared livelihood zones through science, dialogue, and compassion.
