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Friday, February 20, 2026
TopicUnorganised labour

Topic: Unorganised labour

India’s informal sector continues to grow even as govt claims higher formalisation, new data shows

The latest govt survey of the non-agricultural informal sector shows it shrank between 2015-16 and 2021-22, following which it has been growing both in terms of establishments and workers.

Government Launches eShram Portal for Unorganized Workers

This initiative aims to provide seamless access to various social security schemes for unorganized workers registered on the eShram portal.

Tobacco, textile and apparel manufacturing — women overrepresented in low-paying jobs

Only 25% of India's informal workforce are women, and they largely have low-quality jobs, but leadership patterns emerge on a deeper look at the government's annual survey data. 

Database for unorganised workers expected to take off this month, after several missed deadlines

On 29 June, the Supreme Court had fixed 31 July as the deadline for the Centre to make the portal operational. The database’s dry run and security audit is underway now.

India’s informal workers need more than Modi govt’s labour code to get social security

Expecting India's low-paid, unorganised workforce to be part of a fully contributed social sector architecture is unrealistic, writes IAS officer serving in Bihar.

Under new labour code, an Uber driver can be both gig and platform worker. It’s a problem

It is a great initiative by the Modi govt, but there are issues of overlapping definitions & how to make registration accessible to as many workers as possible.

This 2008 law could have given migrants safety net for lockdown, but was never implemented

Officials claim the Unorganised Sector Workers’ Social Security Act had some flaws that hampered its implementation, but experts say successive govts slept on it.

Social security net could be Modi govt’s route to protect unorganised workers

The labour and finance ministries are working on the proposal, even as RSS’ labour wing BMS is asking govt to formulate a new national policy on labourers.

Modi govt plans stimulus for MSMEs and unorganised sector, but no ‘big bang’ package likely

No immediate relief planned for big industries due to limited fiscal resources, but NBFCs could get some respite, govt officials say.

How 45 NGOs and $15 million brought down bonded labour in UP, Bihar & Tamil Nadu

London-based Freedom Fund, along with Indian NGOs, helped cut percentage of families in bonded labour from 56% to 11% in the three states.

On Camera

‘Good old days of bonhomie’ between New Delhi and Dhaka won’t be easy

India and Bangladesh should remain alert and remember that Turkey’s increasing role in Dhaka’s defence capabilities goes against India’s security and strategic interests.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

US military commander, envoy Sergio Gor visit Indian Army Western Command, Bengaluru next

At the Western Army Command, the American delegation was briefed on the capabilities of the formation, past operations and the path ahead.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.