The CRUSHED 2021 report reveals that the Constitutional vision of a safe, just, humane and dignified workplace is far from realization for India’s auto sector workers, writes DR K.R. SHYAM SUNDAR.
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THE Safe in India Foundation released its third annual report – CRUSHED 2021 – on the state of worker safety in the Indian auto sector, on Republic Day. The report makes for sobering reading. It brings to light that even after 74 years of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, we have still not been able to provide the right to work in safe and humane conditions in formal and informal workspaces, and the right not to lose one’s life and income-earning opportunities, as guaranteed by Articles 21 (protection of life and personal liberty), 39(a) (right to an adequate means to livelihood) and 42 (provision for just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief) of the Constitution.
The auto sector is the modern face of the manufacturing sector in India. It accounts for a little over seven per cent of India’s GDP [Gross Domestic Product], and directly employs eight million people as well as 29 million people indirectly. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers estimates that by 2026, the auto sector would account for 12 per cent of India’s GDP and employ around 102 million people. During the period of April 2000 – September 2021, this sector attracted five per cent (US$ 30,784 million) of India’s total foreign direct investment. It boasts of many well-known Indian and foreign multinational corporations operating in India. But are the automobiles it produces unstained by blood? The answer, as indicated by CRUSHED 2021, is a resounding No. Even if the report covers a small segment of the vast auto sector in Haryana (Gurugram and Faridabad), it represents India.
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Some of the report’s findings
It is well-known that the original equipment manufacturers [OEMs] in the auto sector, like in garments, have a deep supply chain. During 2016-21, the report has managed to cover 2,584 workers employed in the supply chain who have suffered crush injuries in the auto sector in Haryana. Eighty per cent of the injured workers were located in the supply chains of some of the well-known auto brands. Seven out of ten injured workers lost their fingers or hands, which means temporary and/or permanent disability to work. A typical crush injury, on average, results in loss of two fingers, and if caused by a power press, the extent of damage to fingers and the probability of losing the entire hand is greater.
2,584 workers employed in the supply chain have suffered crush injuries in the auto sector in Haryana. Seven out of ten injured workers lost their fingers or hands, which means temporary and/or permanent disability to work. … it is the flexi-category and most vulnerable workers who incurred severe injuries. Nine out of ten workers were migrants coming mainly from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. 70 per cent were contract workers, and 80 per cent were lowly educated (up to 10th standard) and earned less than Rs. 10,000 per month. None of these over 2,500 workers belonged to a trade union.
Not unexpectedly, it is the flexi-category and most vulnerable workers who incurred severe injuries. Nine out of ten workers were migrants coming mainly from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. Seventy per cent were contract workers, and 80 per cent were lowly educated (up to 10th standard) and earned less than Rs. 10,000 per month. None of these over 2,500 workers belonged to a trade union.
Predictably, 70 per cent of the injured workers got their medical coverage under the Employees’ State Insurance Act [ESIA] e-Pehchan card not on the date of their joining as they must, but post their injuries. More interestingly, the report observes that it was aware of “many instances” where the premium under ESIA was deducted from their wages but not deposited with the ESI Corporation (p.18). The ESIC is aware of this phenomenon and terms it comfortingly as “Post Accident Registration” [PAR], a contradiction of sorts given the statute. Ideally, both the defaulting factory owners (the occupiers) and the ESIC officials must be penalized: the former for non-compliance and the latter for dereliction of duty. It is appalling, even unforgivable, to note the incidence of PAR.
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The Report notes that lowly educated helpers were often asked to operate dangerous machines like power presses without adequate training and of course, at lower wages. Only two per cent of the power press operators received formal training at an institute, none in the factory, and most learnt from their supervisors or senior workers. The pursuit of flexibility cannot get worse or more dangerous than this. Forty-seven per cent of the injured workers worked 12 hours or longer shifts. Rule 28 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working [OSH] Conditions (Central) Rules, 2020 stipulates that inclusive of intervals, the spread-hours must not be more than twelve hours a day. It is not uncommon to hear numerous instances narrated by workers in many industries having supply chains to have worked a 12-hours shift at eight-hour wages.
What adds woe to concern are two facts reported here, viz. under-reporting of accidents by establishments to government agencies, and a declining trend in factory inspections in Haryana. By vilifying inspections and blaming data submission as unproductive, employers successfully lobbied the government to liberalize them despite India’s ratification of International Labour Organization Conventions concerning them, viz. Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (C.160) and Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (C.081)
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Issues raised, and how to address them
The report provides operational recommendations for OEMs like taking full responsibility for worker safety in their vendor units, and weeding out habitual offenders, among other things. To add to these, I suggest that the OEMs create a labour standards rating system of vendors akin to quality rating and stop giving business to lower ones. It also means walking away from their typical choice of “low-cost bidders”. Otherwise, humane work in the supply chain is not possible.
Lowly educated helpers were often asked to operate dangerous machines like power presses without adequate training and of course, at lower wages. Only two per cent of the power press operators received formal training at an institute, none in the factory, and most learnt from their supervisors or senior workers.
But this Report poses scorching questions to the government in four ways. First, the government needs to strengthen the regulations concerning safety, including the provision of compulsory training to workers on or off-site. The OSH Code must make the constitution of Safety Committees mandatory instead of the notification method existent. It must provide for submission of Safety Audit Reports by all establishments. Put simply, the lawmakers have a lot more work to do regarding OSH Code. Second, inspection machinery, as opposed to the current trend of liberalization, must be strengthened to cover the supply chain adequately. Third, the statistical system relating to industrial accidents must be vastly improved to cover all sectors and all the units. Fourth, the ESI Corporation’s efficiency needs priority attention from the government.
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The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8.8, that is the promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers and those in precarious employment, needs special attention from all stakeholders.
The report also brings to attention under-reporting of accidents by establishments to government agencies, and a declining trend in factory inspections in Haryana.
Finally, the role of trade unions in securing these is crucial. Their very absence (failure on the supply side) weakens both the unions as institutions and their goal of workers’ welfare.
(Dr K. R. Shyam Sundar is Professor, HRM Area, XLRI, Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur. The views expressed are personal.)
