As India staggers on under the Covid-19 pandemic, the fallout for working people has been devastating. Between April and June last year the economy underwent a massive unplanned contraction of 23 per cent. Millions lost their jobs; farmers and day-wage labourers are looking at years of penury.
Today the employment situation remains dire. Those finding work often have to accept rock-bottom wages. There has been an upsurge of child labour as families get desperate for earnings and employers look for the most exploitable workers. At the time of writing, salaried workers also appear to have bleak prospects with over 21 million such jobs lost.
