Labour Flexibility Debate in India

This paper seeks to comprehensively study the issues in the debate on labour flexibility. Section I outlines the arguments for and against labour flexibility and the demands posed by employers and trade unions respectively in India. It also discusses the theoretical aspects relating to employment protection. A review of empirical studies on labour market flexibility in India and abroad is presented in Section II. Section III discusses the recommendations of the Second National Labour Commission. Section IV describes the employment protection practices in other countries. Finally some suggestions for reformulating employment protection practices are offered.