Economists argue that the quality of employment in India has been deteriorating. Which of the following supports this view?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Many workers get no maternity benefit or gratuity even after 10-20 years of work
Economists say the quality of employment has been falling. One sign is that some workers get no maternity benefit, provident fund, gratuity or pension even after 10-20 years of work.
Option (1) Most workers in India now get a regular income — Incorrect. Only a small section of the workforce gets a regular income.
Option (2) The share of the primary sector in the workforce has fallen since 1972-73 — Incorrect. This is a shift of workers from farm to non-farm work. It tells us about sectors, not about the quality of jobs.
Option (3) Most workers in India are now protected by labour laws — Incorrect. Labour laws protect only the small section with regular income.
Option (4) Many workers get no maternity benefit or gratuity even after 10-20 years of work — Correct. Missing benefits show that jobs have become poorer in quality.
NCERT (2026-27): “6.7 Informalisation of Indian Workforce … Economists argue that, over the years, the quality of employment has been deteriorating. Even after working for more than 10-20 years, why do some workers not get maternity benefit, provident fund, gratuity and pension? Why does a person working in the private sector get a lower salary as compared to another person doing the same work but in the public sector? You may find that a small section of Indian workforce is getting regular income. The government, through its labour laws, enable them to protect their rights in various ways. …” |