"Compared to India, many countries allow greater freedom to workers and factories to organise (sic) the working hours. For instance, China, Denmark, Indonesia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland do not limit the maximum period for which a worker can be employed in a factory. Bangladesh allows its workers to spend 11 hours in the factory daily, while Vietnam has a higher limit of 12 hours." -
I couldn't believe when I first read this so I did some digging. While its true there is no specific limit its also true workers rights are protected and they have collective power for bargaining. For example, in Denmark "Over the course of four months, an average working week should not exceed 48 hours." - https://tinyurl.com/exwcnd88
Its highly misleading to compare apples to oranges because this is how a lie is born. Apparently, some more educated and decorated folks who are responsible for doing the economic survey in India which then becomes an influential document for its federal budget have a table in their report (page 287) arguing for Indian factory workers to work more hours since even countries like Denmark are doing it. The writers here neither in the economic report have pointed out how Indian law provides zero protection to workers to safeguard their rights.
We looked at the example of Denmark’s regulations that you have cited here. Two clarifications might help:
1. The table you cite refers to daily spread-over limits, i.e. the ‘maximum period for which workers can be employed in a factory’ including all rest periods and overtime. In Denmark this is not prescribed under the law. In India, this limit is 10.5 hours per day. In neighbouring Bangladesh, this limit is 11 hours, and in Vietnam, this limit is 12.
2. The 48-hour week provision in Denmark is in fact different from how India has set its limits. In Denmark, 48-hour/week limit is an average over a four-month period. In effect, for many of the weeks the worker is able to work for more or less hours, based on mutual understanding with the employer.
In general, most countries put fewer restrictions. They may have some of the restrictions that India imposes (for example, weekly limits OR daily limits) but rarely do developed countries impose ALL of the limits at the same, the way India does. In east Asian countries, they may have all of the same restrictions, but the standards are more permissive. Many countries also allow employers to increase limits on hours of work by collective agreement or in lieu of other benefits, like paid days off (eg: South Africa).
There are enough arguments against relaxing labor laws, here is one such example (https://tinyurl.com/sepbdeew) specific to Indian context. I am not denying your observations noted in your list. My main point is simple. We can not take a data point from one country and apply it to another without looking at the context.
Even in a country like US that has fairly robust institutions, unlike India, reforms (please read weaker labor laws) have led to income inequality and reduce overall worker welfare (Economic Policy Institute; Manhattan Institute).
In theory, we should allow individuals to decide whats good for them. In practice, they aren't even allowed on the negotiation table and thats a fact we can't deny.
"Compared to India, many countries allow greater freedom to workers and factories to organise (sic) the working hours. For instance, China, Denmark, Indonesia, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland do not limit the maximum period for which a worker can be employed in a factory. Bangladesh allows its workers to spend 11 hours in the factory daily, while Vietnam has a higher limit of 12 hours." -
I couldn't believe when I first read this so I did some digging. While its true there is no specific limit its also true workers rights are protected and they have collective power for bargaining. For example, in Denmark "Over the course of four months, an average working week should not exceed 48 hours." - https://tinyurl.com/exwcnd88
Its highly misleading to compare apples to oranges because this is how a lie is born. Apparently, some more educated and decorated folks who are responsible for doing the economic survey in India which then becomes an influential document for its federal budget have a table in their report (page 287) arguing for Indian factory workers to work more hours since even countries like Denmark are doing it. The writers here neither in the economic report have pointed out how Indian law provides zero protection to workers to safeguard their rights.
Thank you for your response, Khem!
We looked at the example of Denmark’s regulations that you have cited here. Two clarifications might help:
1. The table you cite refers to daily spread-over limits, i.e. the ‘maximum period for which workers can be employed in a factory’ including all rest periods and overtime. In Denmark this is not prescribed under the law. In India, this limit is 10.5 hours per day. In neighbouring Bangladesh, this limit is 11 hours, and in Vietnam, this limit is 12.
2. The 48-hour week provision in Denmark is in fact different from how India has set its limits. In Denmark, 48-hour/week limit is an average over a four-month period. In effect, for many of the weeks the worker is able to work for more or less hours, based on mutual understanding with the employer.
In general, most countries put fewer restrictions. They may have some of the restrictions that India imposes (for example, weekly limits OR daily limits) but rarely do developed countries impose ALL of the limits at the same, the way India does. In east Asian countries, they may have all of the same restrictions, but the standards are more permissive. Many countries also allow employers to increase limits on hours of work by collective agreement or in lieu of other benefits, like paid days off (eg: South Africa).
We hope this clarification is helpful.
Thank you for taking time to respond.
There are enough arguments against relaxing labor laws, here is one such example (https://tinyurl.com/sepbdeew) specific to Indian context. I am not denying your observations noted in your list. My main point is simple. We can not take a data point from one country and apply it to another without looking at the context.
Even in a country like US that has fairly robust institutions, unlike India, reforms (please read weaker labor laws) have led to income inequality and reduce overall worker welfare (Economic Policy Institute; Manhattan Institute).
In theory, we should allow individuals to decide whats good for them. In practice, they aren't even allowed on the negotiation table and thats a fact we can't deny.