Inside labour hubs in India's capital: Fewer jobs, more unemployed workers

Demonetisation, GST, sealing and anti-pollution measures worsened the prospects of getting a job, but experts said such opportunities were already scarce for those without a proper education

Economy & Policy: As the midday May sun blazed overhead, and the temperature rose to 42 degree Celsius, several construction workers stood or sat on the pavement where they gathered every day, waiting to be picked up for odd jobs by prospective employers. The last batch of workers had been picked up two-and-a-half hours ago, at 10 am, and no more employers came along.

Yet, they waited, nearly six hours after getting to Harola in eastern Delhi. The lucky ones got picked by 7 am, others later. The unlucky ones hung on, until hope ran out and they headed home.

“It’s a daily routine here,” said 32-year-old Ram Kripal, a daily wage labourer left behind at Harola. The numbers of those left behind began to rise after demonetisation--the withdrawal of 86 per cent, by value, of India’s currency--in November 2016, said Javed Ibrahim. From 2,000 to 3,000 daily wage workers who found employment here every day that year, fewer than 1,000 find work today, he said. Read More

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