{"id":1552,"date":"2023-05-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/26-05-2023\/indias-employment-problem-and-bad-statistics\/"},"modified":"2023-05-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T00:00:00","slug":"indias-employment-problem-and-bad-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/26-05-2023\/indias-employment-problem-and-bad-statistics","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Employment Problem and Bad Statistics"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

India\u2019s Employment Problem and Bad Statistics<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

Syllabus: GS1\/ Social Justice; GS2\/ Government policies and interventions, GS3\/Inclusive Growth and related issues<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • The Indian definition of employment does not meet international standards.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Need of obtaining employment statistics<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • The global recession of 2008 profoundly affected high-income countries and cast its shadow on countries and sectors closely linked to the global economy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
    • In this context, <\/span><\/span><\/span>international labour statisticians<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> urged countries to obtain employment statistics that would\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
        \n
      • examine and monitor \u201cconditions of work\u201d and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
      • construct measurements \u201cuseful for labour-management negotiations\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • This required <\/span><\/span><\/span>good estimates of underemployment <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>resulting in advocacy for <\/span><\/span><\/span>a short measurement period<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> to reduce recall bias and limiting focus on activities for pay or profit.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Issues with obtaining employment statistics in India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Unmatching definition:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
            \n
          • The Indian definition of employment does not meet international standards. This has resulted in strong recommendations from international bodies to revise India\u2019s definition of who is employed and who is not.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Validity of International standards for India:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
              \n
            • The International Labour Organisation (ILO)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> has urged India to follow the standards laid down by the<\/span><\/span><\/span> 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS-19),<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> held in <\/span><\/span><\/span>2013<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                \n
              • The question is, are these recommendations appropriate for a transitional economy, in which a large proportion of the population continues to engage in agriculture, often supplemented by casual wage work.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
              • Two major recommendations of ICLS-19 are:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                  \n
                • Employment data<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> should rely on <\/span><\/span><\/span>short-term measures of employment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, in most cases, a <\/span><\/span><\/span>7-day measure<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, capturing employment during the preceding week;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                • It should <\/span><\/span><\/span>measure all types of work<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, including <\/span><\/span><\/span>unpaid work<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, but define a person as being employed only if he or she is engaged<\/span><\/span><\/span> in producing goods or services<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for pay or profit.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                    \n
                  • This distinction between work and employment may have critical implications for the measurement of progress towards SDGs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                    \n\n\n\n
                    \n

                    The International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • About:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                        \n
                      • The International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) is a vehicle for <\/span><\/span><\/span>standard-setting in labour statistics<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, hosted by the ILO<\/span><\/span><\/span> every five years.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                      • ICLS recommendations:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                          \n
                        • The ICLS makes recommendations <\/span><\/span><\/span>on selected topics of labour statistics<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the form of resolutions and guidelines, which are then <\/span><\/span><\/span>approved by the Governing Body of the ILO<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> before becoming part of the set of international standards on labour statistics.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                        • These standards usually relate to <\/span><\/span><\/span>concepts, definitions, classifications<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and other <\/span><\/span><\/span>methodological procedures<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> which are agreed as representing \u2018best practice\u2019 in the respective areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                        • Significance:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                            \n
                          • When used by national data producers (for example, national statistical offices), they are expected to increase the likelihood of having internationally comparable labour statistics.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                              \n
                            • 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS-19) – 2013<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                \n
                              • The Conference adopted five resolutions concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization; further work on forced labour, cooperatives and labour migration; and the functioning of the Conference.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                              • 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS-20) – 2018<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                  \n
                                • The Conference adopted four resolutions concerning statistics on work relationships, child labour and the methodology of SDG indicators on labour rights and youth employment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                • ICLS-21:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                    \n
                                  • 21st International Conference of Labour Statisticians is expected to be conducted in October 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

                                    Challenges for India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    • Excluding production of goods or services for own use:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                        \n
                                      • Exclusion of production of goods or services for own use was possibly put in place due to a conviction that <\/span><\/span><\/span>countries were inflating employment rates for excluded groups<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, particularly <\/span><\/span><\/span>women<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, by counting distress work instead of providing paying jobs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                                      • This would reduce the proportion of individuals defined as being employed by as much as 50 per cent in some conditions. Which could also be the case with India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • Relying on a one-week reference period:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                          \n
                                        • The recommendation to rely on a one-week reference period is even more <\/span><\/span><\/span>likely to affect <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>this classification.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                                        • A vast <\/span><\/span><\/span>proportion of rural Indians <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>engage in multiple activities combining farm work with work in construction,<\/span><\/span><\/span> MGNREGS work<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, or other work in nearby towns.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                                        • However, when it is time to sow or harvest, they devote all their time to farming.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                            \n
                                          • When surveys occur during this period, many individuals would be classified as farmers, and based on IHDS estimates, <\/span><\/span><\/span>45 per cent may be classified as producing only for home consumption<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                          • Thus, they<\/span><\/span><\/span> would not be counted as employed<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> even if they are engaged in income-producing activities during other parts of the year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                            Reasons for India\u2019s declining employment<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                                              \n
                                            • Opting out of work:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                                \n
                                              • The sharp fall in India\u2019s labour force participation rate (LFPR) suggests that despite India\u2019s young population, many have simply opted out of the labour force, perhaps feeling let down by the absence of remunerative, productive jobs.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                              • Women face more issues:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                                  \n
                                                • The situation is even more dire for women who had a considerably lower participation rate to begin with.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                                                • India\u2019s female labour force participation is not only lower than the global average, but also lower than countries like Bangladesh.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                • Less Jobs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • Post-pandemic, people unable to find jobs remain high among those looking for jobs. Also, the unemployment rate is higher among the younger and more educated.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                  • More Informal Sector Jobs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • While there are signs of increasing formalisation as indicated by the EPFO data, a substantial share of the labour force continues to remain employed in the informal sector, lacking a safety net.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                      Way ahead<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                                                        \n
                                                      • Changing definitions would <\/span><\/span><\/span>underestimate the strength of the Indian economy<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>not serve any policy purpose<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                                                      • Despite this <\/span><\/span><\/span>potential for an artificial decline <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>in employment, the advocacy from international bodies for adopting ICLS-19 recommendations remains strong.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
                                                      • Unless the statistical system develops the self-confidence to assertively engage with international organisations, is willing to adopt global best practices where it makes sense and resists pressure to do so when it does not serve policy needs, it will <\/span><\/span><\/span>continue to be held in low esteem nationally and internationally<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                                        \n\n\n\n
                                                        \n

                                                        Daily Mains Question<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

                                                        [Q]<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> International standards and definitions of obtaining employment statistics may underestimate the strength of the Indian economy and not serve any policy purpose. Examine.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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                                                        India\u2019s Employment Problem and Bad Statistics Syllabus: GS1\/ Social Justice; GS2\/ Government policies and interventions, GS3\/Inclusive Growth and related issues In Context The Indian definition of employment does not meet international standards.\u00a0 Need of obtaining employment statistics The global recession of 2008 profoundly affected high-income countries and cast its shadow on countries and sectors closely […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[31,30,25],"class_list":["post-1552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis","tag-government-policies-interventions","tag-gs-2","tag-gs1"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/2817083Screenshot_2.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1552"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}