Social security, an idea whose time has come

With entire industries being decimated – travel and tourism, hospitality and the likes, millions of staffers working round the clock now find themselves staring at job losses. The global aviation sector, which supported as many as 65 mn workers last year, as per Air Transport Action Group, is one of the worst-hit among all sectors.

In India last week, Air Deccan ceased operations and put all its employees on a sabbatical without any pay. It was a fortnight ago that the Union Labour and Employment Ministry reached out to employers across India - both private and public to desist from laying off employees or cutting salaries in the backdrop of the pandemic. However, the COVID-19 crisis has once again highlighted the plight of workers dependent on the private sector in the country, and how easily breadwinners could be rendered helpless in the wake of a contingency. But it also makes a strong case for the Indian government to at least consider the feasibility of providing its 1.3 billion citizens with social security –unemployment benefits, old-age pension, disability insurance, the whole nine yards.

Just a week back, British Airways said it was looking at suspending about 36,000 employees, owing to the crippling blow dealt to the airline industry as passenger travel halted globally. However, in a far cry from what was happening in India, the airline reached an agreement with the UK trade union Unite, which ensured that the staff would be furloughed, without being made redundant. This means, workers could still be eligible to claim unemployment benefits. Naysayers can wag their fingers – but those are exactly the kind of benefits that can mean the difference between surviving such catastrophes, and not living to see another day.

Unfortunately, the notion of a welfare state is a mirage as far as citizens are concerned, and an empty promise come election time in India. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, as part of his party manifesto during the 2018 state assembly elections, had guaranteed a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 to over 10 lakh unemployed youth in his state. Predictably, the idea proved to be a non-starter. While statesponsored handouts and ration card subsidies for the masses are welcome at such crucial junctures, those in power will need to extend this idea further to include the working class. After the dust of the pandemic settles down, India, like every other nation – whether first world or the third world will be offered an opportunity to make a fresh start. A strong political will at the Centre, backed by a rock-solid policy framework that keeps the interests of the multitude in mind, could help execute the idea of social security in India, as an idea whose time has come.