Chapter 6

Question 1

Who is a worker

Answer 1

A worker is an individual who is in some employment to earn a living

Question 2

Define worker population ratio

Answer 2

Worker population ratio is defined as the number of people employed per hundred people

WPR = NO. OF EMPLOYED PEOPLE/TOTAL POPULATION ×100

Question 3

The newly emerging jobs are found mostly in the _____ sector

Answer 3

Service

Question 4

An establishment with four hired workers is known as _____ sector establishment

Answer 4

Informal (Informal sector includes those establishments which hire less than 10 workers)

Question 5

Compared to urban women, more rural women are found working. Why?

Answer 5

• Poverty compels women to seek employment
• Employment is a priority over education

On the other hand, in urban areas, high priority for education implies low productivity for jobs at an early age

Question 6

Why are regular salaried employees more in urban areas than in rural areas?

Answer 6

• Various infrastructural facilities in urban areas
• Limited non-farm job opportunities in rural areas

Question 7

Why are less women found in regular salaried employment?

Answer 7

1. Female education ⬇️ Eligibility for salaried jobs ⬇️
2. Family’s decision over individual’s decision
3. Widespread rural poverty

Question 8

Analyse the recent trends in sectoral distribution of workforce in India

Answer 8

As of 2017-18 -

44.6% engaged in primary sector
31% engaged in secondary sector
24.4% engaged in tertiary sector

Thus,

• Large segment still depends on primary activities
• Secondary and tertiary failed to develop ample employment
• Industrialisation has failed to become the leading sector of economy

Question 9

Compared to the 1970s, there has hardly been any change in the distribution of workforce across various industries. Comment.

Answer 9

Sectoral distribution in 1972 -

Primary - 74.3%
Secondary - 10.9%
Tertiary - 14.8%

Service sector growth > Industrial sector growth

Reasons
• Globalisation was the principal factor of the service sector growth
• Lack of domestic investment and scarce inflow of FDI - Constrained growth of industrial sector

Question 10

Do you think that during 1950-2010, employment generated in the country is commensurate with the growth of GDP in India? How?

Answer 10

Observations

• GDP ⬆️ but employment ⬇️
• Technology driven growth
• Greater reliance on capital intensive large scale industry
• After NEP, we relied more on FDI and labour saving production technology

Question 11

Is it necessary to generate employment in the formal sector rather than in the informal sector? Why?

Answer 11

Yes, because workers in the formal sector can avail the following benefits:

1. They are entitled to social security benefits
2. Various labour laws
3. Trade Unions
4. No vulnerability to market uncertainties unlike informal sector workers

Question 12

Who is a casual wage labourer?

Answer 12

Casual wage labourers are the daily wagers. They are not hired by their employees on a regular basis. They are casually engaged in some work and generally paid on daily basis.

Question 13

How will you know whether a worker is working in the informal sector?

Answer 13

1. They are not entitled to social security benefits
2. Cannot form trade unions
3. Unprotected by labour laws
4. Highly vulnerable to market uncertainties

All workers working in the informal sector are called ‘informal workers’