A Novel Idea to Organize the Non Organized Labor Sector

I couldn’t help wondering at the novel and remarkable idea introduced by the Agricultural Department of Kerala recently. The idea to establish a labor bank in the Kuttanad region of the state which is one of the leading food grain production centers is noteworthy and timely. It would not only provide a standard platform for the employment availability for farm laborers as there is an acute shortage of them for work in the paddy fields, but also help the farmers in getting laborers at the standard hire charges introduced by the bank.

The laborers have to be listed in order to be given a day’s work paid on hourly basis. This is good considering the fact that the state suffers from improper labor employment on one hand while there is huge hike in labor cost on the other. This is not congenial for the proper development of the agricultural and infrastructure areas of the state. The idea of such labor bank is a good beginning and Kerala may extend help to other states in India in setting up such labor banks where in sharp contrast to the labor here there is maximum exploitation of labor to the extent that most of them live in state of depravity and squalor.  

The most important factor here is the standardization of the labor cost or charges which offers little scope for unhealthy bargaining and belittling. Through such banks the laborers too cannot demand exorbitant rates or charges for hardly doing any work. The ‘nokukuli’ in Kerala where some laborers are paid is a good horrifying example of labor crossing the very limits of ethical practice. In such case the labor simply has to stand still looking at some work being done near or far away and getting paid for it because they demand it as their rights.

Kerala’s Agricultural Department introduction of such labor bank can give the right to dignity of labor and the owners of paddy land the no-hassle methods of getting their job done. The labor bank is indeed a classic idea.