Licence to exploit

Ignoring the rights of a section of Indians - mostly in the unorganised sector - that conspicuously lack any agency is easy to do

The cynical way to look at state ordinances relaxing labour laws for re-opened factories is that they recognise the reality of working conditions for the bulk of India’s workforce. Outside the large factories that hire unionised contractual labour, 72-hour work weeks and the absence of basic welfare and safety norms are hardly exceptions. If anything, these ordinances legally relieve business owners of constant harassment from the rent-seeking inspector and the costs of inducements to have them look the other way. But they also reflect the fundamental misunderstanding by the political class of what it takes to get the economy up