19 Jul 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category: ECONOMY

1. The five-day work week might be fading away

Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to employment.

Mains: Critical evaluation of the implementation of a four-day work week for employees

Context

The Central government’s new labour codes include rules for a flexible four-day work week. The new codes prescribe 48 hours of work per week.

Background

• The debate for a four-day work week against the traditional 40-hour, five-day work week has been in the news for many years.
• After the reduction of working hours in the 1920s and 1930s from over 60 hours a week to 40 hours, which was led by Henry Ford, the idea of lesser working hours for the same productivity through the use of advanced higher technology gained prominence.
• In 2019, Microsoft experimented with the adoption of a four-day work week in Japan.
• Very recently, many countries and companies across the world are experimenting with the idea of the “Four-day work week”.
• Trials of a four-day work week in Iceland were successful and about 86% of its workers currently have the right to work on a four-day work week.

Outcomes of the experiments on the four-day work week

• As per Microsoft’s experiments in Japan, there was a 40% increase in productivity which was mainly attributed to increased job satisfaction and lower fatigue.
  • It was also found that a shorter work week led to higher efficiency in the form of lower office costs.
• Similar results were also found in New Zealand, where a trust management company reported a 20% increase in productivity in 2018 owing to a shorter work week.
• An experiment conducted between February and March across sectors in 2022 by Genius Consultants, in India, reported that 60% of the employers preferred a four-day work week and felt that it positively impacted employee productivity and well-being.

Benefits of a four-day work week

• A reduction in the number of workdays has proved to have improved overall labour productivity and increased employee well-being.
• Ensures better work-life balance.
• This also helps achieve higher employer efficiency.
• This move will also benefit women professionals and helps improve gender equality.
• A reduction in the number of working days will decrease commutation and transportation which in turn will have a positive impact on the environment.
  • This also includes lesser consumption of electricity.
• It is also seen as a means to revive employment rates post the COVID Pandemic and address the issue of increasing unemployment rates.

Drawbacks with the four-day work week

• Experts feel that an increase in the per day work hours as a result of a four-day work week will work against employee motivation to increase output.
  • Studies reveal that productivity reduces post a certain number of hours a day. 
• It is seen that a reduction in the number of working days is not effective in service sectors such as education and health.
  • Further, it is also not feasible for sales and marketing sectors as it makes it difficult for them to convert leads, build customer relations and solve issues.
  • A reduction in the number of working days will also impact individuals who are self-employed. 
• The Centre for Policy Studies, which researched the possible cost of implementing a four-day work week for public sector employees in the U.K., noted that it would cost about £17 billion as it required an expansion in the workforce to ensure stable productivity.
• Parkinson’s law states that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion” this must be noted by the firms and countries that plan for a four-day work week.
• Implementation of a four-day work week would also impact employees’ current holiday entitlements.

Nut graf: The idea of implementing a “four-day work week” is seen as an option by various countries to address the concerns of increasing unemployment rate across the global economies post the pandemic. However, the policymakers and the companies must also acknowledge the current challenges associated with its implementation.

Category: ENVIRONMENT

1. India’s climate imperative

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Mains: Impacts of climate change in India and key recommendations to mitigate these impacts.

Context

The article talks about the recent instances of adverse effects of climate change in India.

Adverse impacts of climate change in India

• Climate change-induced disasters have become frequent in India in recent years, which include:
  • The scorching heat waves across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and New Delhi in 2022
  • Excessive rainfall in south India in 2021
  • Super cyclone Amphan that impacted West Bengal and Odisha in 2020
• Temperatures over the Indian Ocean have increased by about 1°C since the 1950s which has caused extreme weather events in the country.
• India is said to be the fourth most affected country due to climate migration. 
• The prevalence of heat waves in the country has resulted in the death of over 17,000 people since the 1970s.
• It is estimated that the labour losses due to rising heat would amount to ₹1.6 lakh crores annually if global warming exceeds 2°C, with India being one of the most affected. 

Recommendations

• Increasing climate resilience 
  • Promotion of agricultural practices which are not water-intensive and do not cause afforestation, as these two are key causes of some of the extreme weather events in India.
  • The introduction of insurance schemes and effective implementation of some of the existing insurance schemes can help transfer the risks of extreme weather events from industrial, construction and agricultural workers to insurers.
  • Diversification of crops and mixed farming can also help improve climate resilience.
  • As the impact of floods and storms is aggravated by the ingression of the sea shore and coastline erosion in the low-lying areas, the States must be directed to avoid such construction in these areas.
• Environment impact assessments 
  • It is important to assess flood-risk zones to manage vulnerable regions. 
  • Environment Impact Assessments must be compulsory for all commercial projects.
  • Based on the Environment Impact Assessments, suitable houses and buildings can be constructed such that there is minimal impact in case of a disaster.
    • Example: Round-shaped houses can reduce the strength of the winds and roofs with multiple slopes can withstand strong wind.
• Mitigate or prevent climate change
  • Efforts to transition away from fossil fuels must be expedited.
  • Measures must be undertaken to protect and expand forest coverage.
  • India, being a signatory of the “Glasgow Declaration” on forest protection in 2021 must scale up the regulations which ensure the protection of forest lands.
• Management of dams
  • According to studies, close to 300 dams in India are over 100 years old and require restoration.
  • Timely management of dams can mitigate the adverse impact of glacier lake outbursts and floods.
  • Further, the government must ensure that dams are not constructed in eco-fragile regions and also put a check on activities like the dynamiting of hills, sand mining, and quarrying.
• Increasing funding
  • India’s contribution towards disaster management must be increased to 2.5% of its GDP. 
  • Climate finance also attracts large-scale funding from institutions like the World Bank, the IMF, and the Asian Development Bank.
• Increased participation of States
  • States must play an active role in making use of the centre’s resources, funding and technical expertise.
  • The MGNREGA funds can be utilised for the construction of climate resilient infrastructure that helps improve agriculture and waste management.
  • States must also extend financial assistance to local self-government resources for advancing climate adaptation. 

Nut graf: The frequency, magnitude and intensity of climate change-induced disasters have increased multifold in recent years in India and this calls for immediate attention towards increasing climate resilience in the country and preventing further degradation of the environment to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. Growth and welfare

Context

• The Prime Minister of India cautioned against the culture of distributing freebies for votes.
• Calling it as “revari” culture, the PM said that such activities would take the new India towards darkness.

To know more about the issue of freebie culture, refer to the following article

UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis dated on 29th April 2022