Reforms, Labour Markets, and Social Security in India

Editors by: Ramgoal Agarwala, Nagesh Kumar, Michelle Ribond

 

Social security reforms have attracted increasing attention over the past decade in the face of globalization and industrial restructuring. This volume analyses social security policies for India focusing on the unorganized sector, which accounts for 90 per cent of Indis's labour force.

Analyzing critical issues highlighted in recent social debates, the contributors assess:

  • Labour market trends resulting from liberalization in India, and the implications for social security and social safety nets

  • conceptual issues, including global ones, concerning the reform of existing pension systems

  • the importance of old age security in the unorganized sector

The authors contend that the existing social security policies for the formal sector cannot simply be extended to the informal one. They highlight the need for an alternative for this vulnerable segment of the workforce.  The essays draw upon relevant experiences of developed as well as developing countries in this area to support the arguments.

The volume stresses the need for a unique social security system designed specifically for India. Cautioning against mere import of existing systems from other countries and juxtapositioning these in the Indian framework, the contributors suggest several alternatives for policy-makers.

This important work will e invaluable for study and research in the areas of labour laws and social security issues. Economists, policy makers, human resource managers, and lawyers will find this collection useful.

Contents

Foreword by Shri K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and Chairman, RIS

Preface by Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Director- General, RIS
Chapter 1: Reforms, Labour Markets, and Social Security Policy in India: An Introduction
by Ramgopal Agarwala, Nagesh Kumar, and Michelle Riboud

Part I: Social Security Reforms: Conceptual Issues
Chapter 2: Social Risk Management: A New Conceptual Framework for Social Protection, and Beyond
By Robert Holzmann and Steen Jorgensen
Chapter 3: How to Reform Social Security and Why?
by Estelle James
Chapter 4: Issues in Reforming Retirement Income Provisions
by Nishan De Mel

Part II: Labour Markets and Social Security Reforms in India
Chapter 5: Economic Reforms and Implications for Labour Markets
by V. R. Panchamukhi, Nagesh Kumar, and Ram Upendra Das
Chapter 6: Pension System Reform in India: Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity
by Ramgopal Agarwala and Rajendra K. Sharma
Chapter 7: Social Security in the Unorganized Sector in India
by Wouter van Ginneken
Chapter 8: Social Security in the Unorganized Sector in India
by S Mahendra Dev
Chapter 9: Employment Generation Policy and Social Safety Nets in India
by Alakh N. Sharma 
Chapter 10: Biotechnology in Bangladesh
by Naiyyum Choudhury and M.Serajul Islam
 

 ISBN 019 566609 7 •  2004  •  215x 140mm  • 294 pages • Price: Rs. 595



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Research and Information System for the
Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (RIS)
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Ph. 91-11-24682177-80 Fax: 91-11-24682173-74
Email: dgoffice@ris.org.in  Website: http://www.ris.org.in

and

The World Bank Institute
The World Bank
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Fax: 001-202-5223252

by Oxford University Press, 2/11 Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002,
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