Beyond Layoff

This was a question that came from an online forum. Response from our editor, Mohan, follows Thanks for asking this interesting question. At the outset, it sounds like a fishing exercise to elicit comments from digerati, since none of us seem to have any hard-data about “ most ” girls getting/not-getting laid-off . Assuming this is a serious query based on some empirical observation one can try some sampling (ref: Participation of women in workforce in India fell 10 percent in the last decade, says study ): “Though there was a spurt in the number of working women in India during 2000-2005, increasing from 34 percent to 37 percent, the female labour force participation rate has reduced continuously thereafter and reached 27 percent in 2014, the study said citing World Bank data, of the period when India's economy was experiencing unprecedented growth.” Let us assume a company employs 35% female workforce and decides to lay off 10% of the existing workforce. Let us als...

Earlier this summer, Forum For IT Employees ( FITE ) was getting a lot of media attention. This was during the peak of 'Indian IT Layoff' debates of 2017. Now comes news that a state government in India is recognizing the "Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU)" Over the past decade, India’s information technology (IT) industry has seen multiple attempts to mobilise the workforce to form an active trade union. The efforts have finally yielded results, with Karnataka recognising the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) as a workers’ body to protect their interests. The development comes at a time when the IT sector is facing its worst disruption in a decade. However, top executives have questioned the significance of a trade union in the sector. In 2005, UNITES, a global trade union for IT workers affiliated to IBM, opened its Bengaluru office and looked to mobilise technology employees. However, the effort did not take off because soon after ...

A year after the Indian government's demonetization move, political and business leaders continue to debate its merits and benefits.  However, for the common man (and women), and middle-class, life still goes on with tens of rupees at a time. At the current rate of exchange (1 $ = Rs 65) a tenner is a little over a dime (about 15 cents!), not something worth raising an eyebrow over. Before you scoff, huh, just ₹ 10 ... here are a few practical things you can get with a tenner. #1 Nice hot Chilli-Bajji, wrapped in newspaper from a roadside vendor: Just what you need on a winter evening? #2 Forget Ola or Uber, why not go greener and take a bus? A BMTC bus ticket for a 4 kilometer ride costs just ₹ 10 in 2017 #3 Live in a smog-hit metro ? (No, it is not just Delhi!) . You will need a disposable surgical mask ... get yours for about ₹ 10. #4 A morning cuppa at a local tea-stall or coffee-bar, generally under 10 Rupees ! ...

Festival season in India - including Diwali and Dussera - came and went. To promote the sales, many large retailers offered Cars,  Fridges and other luxury items Festive season has gone but some of the adverts and banners continue to linger (picture Above and below, dated 8th Nov 2017) If you have won a 'Bumper Prize', share your experience. The banners and display of cars raise questions: Do you know anyone who won the 'Bumper Prize' or a Car?   Is this yet another marketing ploy by businesses to entice customers to buy? Worse yet, is this a large-scale scam to hoodwink consumers?  Who verifies and audits the 'prize distribution' ?