In 2023 alone, roughly 260,000 women worldwide died during or shortly after childbirth, with 22 per cent (about 58,000 maternal deaths) occurring in the Asia-Pacific – many of which were preventable with timely midwife-led care.
The report says that in India, sectors such as manufacturing, customer service, clerical roles, and routine administration are projected to witness the steepest job declines.
According to the study, which surveyed 2,000 workers from 290 units, 93 per cent of workers’ ESI contributions are not deducted, 92 per cent are excluded from PF benefits, and 90 per cent are not issued salary receipts.
Nayak argues the response is problematic on multiple fronts. Section 32, he says, is a weak, omnibus penal clause covering breach of official duty but does not specifically address wrongful inclusion of ineligible voters.
He said that in their ambitious target to set up 2 lakh multipurpose cooperative societies in the country in 5 years, 35,395 new cooperative societies have been formed so far.
The path forward requires governments, corporate employers, and workers’ rights organizations to engage in robust social dialogue. Integrating rigorous psychosocial risk management directly into standard occupational safety and health systems is no longer optional.