One country, two system: analysing contractual work arrangement and labour practices

This paper uses both theoretical and empirical methods to examine working conditions of contractual workers with illustrations on discriminative labour practices in mining units. The analysis mainly follows a descriptive approach and based on field data, but we have also used secondary data to support arguments. The primary data reflects on wage and other form of discrimination captured in interview with contractual workers of copper mining units in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan state. The most telling finding is significant use of contractual workers in these public units, indicates that the socio-economic background is detrimental to discriminatory behaviour in these mining units. Analysis suggests discrimination is higher for lower caste-based groups in context of education, experience, and skills levels. This informalisation of labour is causing considerable deterioration in working conditions, reflected by wage differential for and among contractual workers. This aggravates the situation for labour community.