1. Conceptual Foundation

Meaning and Purpose

Labour Force Indicators are standardized statistical metrics used to quantify the supply, utilization, and availability of human labor in an economy. They divide the population into functional economic categories—Employed, Unemployed, and Out of Labour Force—to measure economic activity levels. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is India's official, high-frequency survey framework executed by the National Statistical Office (NSO) to estimate key labor market indicators on a regular basis. A Living Wage is a holistic wage concept that goes beyond subsistence to cover nutritious food, housing, healthcare, children's education, social security, and contingency savings required for a worker and their family to live a dignified life. The New Labour Codes represent India's landmark labor law reform that consolidated and modernized 29 complex, outdated central labor statutes into 4 unified, comprehensive codes (Code on Wages, Code on Social Security, Industrial Relations Code, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code).

Importance

In civil services examinations (TGPSC / UPSC), Unit 10.4 is a critical, top-priority theme reflecting modern economic reforms. Exam questions regularly test:

1. Core statistical labor metrics and their exact formulas (LFPR, WPR, Unemployment Rate, and Proportion Unemployed).
2. Methodological design, frequency, and revamp of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) launched in 2017 by NSO/MoSPI.
3. Theoretical hierarchy of wages (Minimum Wage vs. Fair Wage vs. Living Wage vs. National Floor Wage).
4. Detailed provisions, worker thresholds, and social security frameworks of the 4 New Labour Codes (2019–2020).
5. Statutory recognition of Gig Workers, Platform Workers, and Fixed-Term Employees.
6. Digital platforms and skilling tools (e-Shram Portal, e-Shram Microsites, Occupational Shortage Index - OSI, and Employment Linked Incentive - ELI Scheme).

How Concepts Connect

1. Population to Labour Force Metrics: The total population is categorized based on activity status. Metrics like LFPR measure labor supply, WPR measures job creation capacity, and UR measures unutilized labor capacity.
2. Quinquennial Surveys to PLFS: The historical quinquennial (5-yearly) NSSO surveys lacked frequency. PLFS was introduced to provide high-frequency annual (rural + urban) and quarterly (urban) labor market data for timely policy adjustments.
3. Minimum Wage to Living Wage Transition: Minimum wage prevents labor exploitation at a legal baseline. However, rising living costs and international standards (ILO) have driven policy toward a Living Wage framework that ensures human dignity and social security.
4. Labor Code Rationalization to Workforce Formalization: By consolidating 29 fragmented laws into 4 unified codes, the government aims to reduce compliance burdens, extend social security to unorganized, gig, and platform workers via e-Shram, and promote formal employment.

                      LABOUR MARKET INDICATORS & REFORM ARCHITECTURE
                                          |
        +---------------------------------+---------------------------------+
        |                                                                   |
  LABOUR FORCE METRICS & SURVEYS (PLFS)                            WAGE & LABOUR CODE REFORMS
        |                                                                   |
        +---> Core Indicators                                               +---> Wage Hierarchy Framework
        |      |---> LFPR = (Labour Force / Working-Age Pop) * 100          |      |---> Minimum Wage (Legal survival floor)
        |      |---> WPR = (Employed / Total Pop) * 100                     |      |---> Fair Wage (Above min; industry capacity)
        |      |---> UR = (Unemployed / Labour Force) * 100                 |      |---> Living Wage (Dignified life + savings)
        |      |---> PU = (Unemployed / Total Pop) * 100                    |      |---> National Floor Wage (Central baseline)
        |                                                                   |
        +---> PLFS Framework (NSO / MoSPI - April 2017)                     +---> 4 New Labour Codes (29 Laws Consolidated)
        |      |---> Annual Estimates: Rural + Urban (UPSS & CWS)           |      |---> 1. Code on Wages, 2019
        |      |---> Quarterly Estimates: Urban (CWS approach)              |      |---> 2. Code on Social Security, 2020
        |      |---> 2025 Revamp: Monthly CWS + Rural Quarterly             |      |---> 3. Industrial Relations Code, 2020
        |                                                                   |      |---> 4. OSHWC Code, 2020
        +---> Digital Integration & Initiatives                             |
               |---> e-Shram Portal & Microsites (Unorganized DB)           +---> Modern Workforce Categories
               |---> Occupational Shortage Index (OSI - ILO align)          |      |---> Gig & Platform Workers (SS Fund)
               |---> ELI Scheme (Budget 2024-25 - Part A & Part B)          |      |---> Fixed-Term Employment (Pro-rata gratuity)

Key Terms

1. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): The percentage of the working-age population (15–64 years) that is either employed or actively seeking work.
2. Worker Population Ratio (WPR): The percentage of the total population that is actively employed in gainful economic activity.
3. Unemployment Rate (UR): The percentage of persons in the labour force who are unemployed and actively searching for work.
4. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): A national sample survey conducted by NSO since 2017 to measure employment and labor market indicators.
5. Minimum Wage: The lowest wage rate legally payable to workers to prevent exploitation and cover basic survival necessities.
6. Living Wage: A wage rate that allows a worker to afford a decent standard of living, covering food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education, social security, and contingency savings.
7. National Floor Wage: A baseline wage threshold fixed by the Central Government below which no State Government can set its statutory minimum wage.
8. Gig Worker: A person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns income from such activities outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship.
9. Platform Worker: A worker engaged in a form of employment where organizations or individuals use an online platform to access other organizations or individuals to solve specific problems or provide specific services.
10. Fixed-Term Employment: A contractual employment arrangement where a worker is hired directly for a specific fixed duration with statutory benefits equal to regular permanent workers.

Short Timeline of Labour Laws, Surveys & Wage Milestones in India

1. 1948: Passage of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948.
2. 1948: Fair Wages Committee formulated definitions for Minimum Wage, Fair Wage, and Living Wage.
3. 1952: Passage of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 and the Mines Act, 1952.
4. 1972: Passage of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.
5. 2017 (April): NSO launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to replace the traditional quinquennial employment surveys.
6. 2019 (August): Parliament enacted the Code on Wages, 2019 (the first of the 4 labour codes).
7. 2020 (September): Parliament enacted the remaining 3 codes: Code on Social Security, 2020, Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code, 2020.
8. 2021 (August): Launch of the e-Shram Portal by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to create a national database of unorganized workers.
9. 2024 (Budget 2024–25): Announcement of the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme (Part A for first-time workers; Part B for employers).
10. 2025: NSO revamped PLFS methodology to include Monthly All-India CWS estimates and extended quarterly estimates to rural areas.

2. Complete Core Notes

A. Core Labour Market Indicators & Formulas

1. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR):

   • Reflects the size of the active labor supply relative to the working-age population.
   • LFPR = [(Total Employed + Total Unemployed) / Total Working-Age Population] * 100

2. Worker Population Ratio (WPR):

   • Reflects the economy's capacity to absorb labor and generate gainful employment.
   • WPR = [Total Employed Persons / Total Population] * 100

3. Unemployment Rate (UR):

   • Reflects the proportion of the active labor force unable to secure work.
   • Unemployment Rate = [Total Unemployed Persons / Total Labour Force] * 100
   • Denominator Note: The denominator is the Labour Force (Employed + Unemployed), NOT the total population.

4. Proportion Unemployed (PU):

   • Reflects unemployed persons as a percentage of the total national population.
   • Proportion Unemployed = [Total Unemployed Persons / Total Population] * 100

B. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): Framework & Recent Revamp

1. Overview and Objectives

• Conducting Nodal Body: National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Inception: Launched in April 2017, replacing the old quinquennial (5-yearly) NSSO employment-unemployment surveys.
• Twin Objectives:
  1. Quarterly Tracking: Estimate key employment/unemployment indicators (LFPR, WPR, UR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) for urban areas at short intervals.
  2. Annual Tracking: Estimate key indicators in both Usual Status (UPSS) and CWS for both rural and urban areas annually.

2. Key Procedural Revamp of PLFS (2025 Onwards)

1. Monthly All-India CWS Estimates: Introduces high-frequency monthly estimates for key labor market indicators at the national level using Current Weekly Status (CWS).
2. Extension of Quarterly Estimates to Rural Areas: Expands quarterly reporting to cover rural areas in addition to urban areas.
3. Calendar Year Reporting: Shifts annual reporting from the financial/survey cycle (July–June) to the Calendar Year (January–December).
4. Expanded Sample Size: Increases sample size by 2.65 times to enhance statistical precision.
5. District as Primary Stratum: Makes the district the primary geographical sampling unit within each State/UT for rural and urban sectors.

3. Key Findings from Recent PLFS Cycles

• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Shows a consistent upward trend, driven significantly by rising rural female labor participation in agricultural and allied activities.
• Unemployment Rate (UR): All-India Usual Status unemployment rate dropped to ~3.1% to 3.2% in recent survey rounds.
• Workforce Composition:
  • Self-Employed: ~57% to 58% (comprising own-account workers and unpaid helper family members).
  • Regular Salaried / Wage Employees: ~21% to 22%.
  • Casual Labour: ~20% to 21%.
• Sectoral Employment Distribution: Agriculture (~45%), Services (~28–29%), Construction (~12–13%), Manufacturing (~11–12%).

C. Wage Hierarchy: Minimum Wage vs. Fair Wage vs. Living Wage

1. Minimum Wage:

   • Definition: The lowest remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. It is a statutory floor designed to prevent labor exploitation and ensure basic physical survival (food, clothing, shelter).
   • Statutory Basis: Enacted under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and integrated into the Code on Wages, 2019.
   • Fixation Basis: Fixed by Central and State Governments based on worker skill levels, geography, and occupational hazards.

2. Fair Wage:

   • Definition: A wage level above the minimum wage but below the living wage.
   • Determinants: Balances the basic financial needs of the worker with the employer's capacity to pay and prevailing industry productivity levels. It is typically determined through collective bargaining or wage boards.

3. Living Wage:

   • Definition: A wage rate that provides a worker and their family a decent standard of living, going beyond physical survival to cover nutritious food, adequate housing, healthcare, children's education, social security, and a modest allowance for savings and contingencies.
   • International Standard: Advocated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN as a fundamental human right. India is currently collaborating with the ILO to transition from a strict minimum wage regime to a comprehensive Living Wage framework.

4. National Floor Wage:

   • Definition: A statutory baseline wage fixed by the Central Government taking into account minimum living standards across different geographical regions. State Governments are legally prohibited from fixing minimum wages below the National Floor Wage.

D. The Four New Labour Codes (2019–2020)

India consolidated 29 Central Labour Laws into 4 Unified Labour Codes to simplify compliance, expand social security, and promote formal employment:

1. Code on Wages, 2019 (Consolidates 4 Laws)

• Laws Replaced: Minimum Wages Act 1948, Payment of Wages Act 1936, Payment of Bonus Act 1965, Equal Remuneration Act 1976.
• Key Provisions:
  1. Universal Coverage: Extends statutory minimum wage coverage to 100% of workers across both organized and unorganized sectors (removing the old "scheduled employment" restriction).
  2. National Floor Wage: Central Government fixes the statutory National Floor Wage; states cannot set lower rates.
  3. Overtime Wage Rate: Mandates overtime payment at at least double (2x) the normal wage rate.
  4. Gender Non-Discrimination: Strictly prohibits gender-based discrimination in recruitment and wage payment for equal work.
  5. Standardized Wage Definition: Defines "wages" uniformly across all codes, specifying that allowances cannot exceed 50% of total employee remuneration (ensuring higher statutory provident fund and gratuity contributions).

2. Code on Social Security, 2020 (Consolidates 9 Laws)

• Laws Replaced: EPF Act 1952, ESI Act 1948, Payment of Gratuity Act 1972, Maternity Benefit Act 1961, Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act 2008, Building & Other Construction Workers' Welfare Cess Act 1996, Employment Exchanges Act 1959, Workmen's Compensation Act 1923, Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act 1981.
• Key Provisions:
  1. Statutory Recognition of Gig & Platform Workers: Defines gig and platform workers legally for the first time in Indian law.
  2. Social Security Fund: Establishes a dedicated Social Security Fund for unorganized, gig, and platform workers funded through central/state allocations and aggregator contributions (1% to 2% of aggregator turnover).
  3. EPFO & ESIC Expansion: Expands ESIC coverage nationwide to all establishments employing 10 or more workers and opens voluntary ESIC coverage to unorganized workers.
  4. e-Shram National Portal: Creates a comprehensive, Aadhaar-linked national database for registering unorganized, gig, and platform workers.

3. Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (Consolidates 3 Laws)

• Laws Replaced: Industrial Disputes Act 1947, Trade Unions Act 1926, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act 1946.
• Key Provisions:
  1. Higher Retrenchment Threshold: Raises the employee threshold requiring prior government approval for lay-offs, retrenchments, and factory closures from 100 workers to 300 workers.
  2. Fixed-Term Employment: Allows firms to hire workers on direct fixed-term contracts for specified durations, providing equal pay, working conditions, and pro-rata gratuity after 1 year of service (instead of the standard 5 years).
  3. Strike / Lockout Restrictions: Mandates a 14-day advance notice for strikes and lockouts across all industrial establishments (removing the public utility distinction).
  4. Sole Negotiating Union: Requires a trade union to have at least 51% worker support to be recognized as the sole negotiating union in an establishment.

4. Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code, 2020 (Consolidates 13 Laws)

• Laws Replaced: Factories Act 1948, Mines Act 1952, Contract Labour Act 1970, Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act 1979, Dock Workers Act 1986, Plantation Labour Act 1951, Motor Transport Workers Act 1961, Beedi and Cigar Workers Act 1966, Working Journalists Act 1955, etc.
• Key Provisions:
  1. Free Health Check-ups: Mandates free annual health check-ups for workers aged 40 years and above provided by employers.
  2. Night Shifts for Women: Formally permits women to work night shifts (between 7 PM and 6 AM) across all sectors, subject to their explicit consent and employer-provided safety, transport, and facility safeguards.
  3. Expanded Inter-State Migrant Worker Definition: Expands the definition to include self-migrants who move independently across states earning up to Rs 18,000 per month, granting them portability of public distribution (PDS) and welfare benefits.
  4. Single All-India Operating License: Introduces a single license for contractors, factories, and industrial establishments across jurisdictions.

E. Recent Employment Policy Initiatives & Digital Tools

1. e-Shram Portal & e-Shram Microsites:
   • Launched in August 2021 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
   • Issues a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) to unorganized workers. State-specific e-Shram microsites integrate the database with state welfare schemes.
2. Occupational Shortage Index (OSI):
   • A data-driven analytical tool developed under MoL&E aligned with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and PLFS data to identify specific occupational skill shortages and align vocational training with industry demand.
3. Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme (Union Budget 2024–25):
   • Part A (First-Time Employees): Provides one month's EPF wage (up to Rs 15,000) in 2 installments to first-time salaried employees registered with EPFO.
   • Part B (Employers): Provides monthly incentives ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 per new employee for 2 years (extended up to 4 years for manufacturing units).

F. Plain-Text Formulas & Labor Equations

1. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR = [(Employed + Unemployed) / Total Working-Age Population] * 100

2. Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR = (Total Employed Persons / Total Population) * 100

3. Unemployment Rate (UR): Unemployment Rate = (Total Unemployed Persons / Total Labour Force) * 100

4. Proportion Unemployed (PU): Proportion Unemployed = (Total Unemployed Persons / Total Population) * 100

3. Key Concepts & Distinctions

Table 1: Minimum Wage vs. Fair Wage vs. Living Wage

Table 2: Usual Status (UPSS) vs. Current Weekly Status (CWS)

Table 3: Summary Comparison of the Four New Labour Codes

Table 4: Organized / Formal Workforce vs. Unorganized / Gig / Platform Workforce

4. Important One-Liners

1. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) measures the percentage of the working-age population in the labor force.
2. Worker Population Ratio (WPR) measures the proportion of the total population that is employed.
3. The Unemployment Rate (UR) is calculated as (Unemployed Persons / Labour Force) * 100.
4. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was launched by NSO (MoSPI) in April 2017.
5. PLFS replaced the old quinquennial employment-unemployment surveys conducted by NSSO.
6. PLFS provides quarterly CWS estimates for urban areas and annual UPSS/CWS estimates for rural and urban areas.
7. The 2025 PLFS revamp introduces Monthly All-India CWS estimates and extends quarterly estimates to rural areas.
8. Under PLFS, the sample size has been increased by 2.65 times, using the district as the primary stratum.
9. Minimum Wage is the lowest legally mandated wage to ensure basic physical survival.
10. Fair Wage lies above minimum wage and considers the employer's capacity to pay and industry productivity.
11. Living Wage covers food, housing, health, education, social security, and savings for a dignified human life.
12. India is collaborating with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to transition toward a Living Wage framework.
13. The National Floor Wage is a statutory baseline fixed by the Central Government below which states cannot set minimum wages.
14. The Four New Labour Codes consolidated 29 Central Labour Laws.
15. The Code on Wages, 2019 replaces 4 laws and extends minimum wage coverage to 100% of workers.
16. Under the Code on Wages, allowances cannot exceed 50% of total employee remuneration.
17. The Code on Wages mandates overtime payment at at least double (2x) the normal wage rate.
18. The Code on Social Security, 2020 replaces 9 laws and legally defines gig and platform workers for the first time.
19. Aggregators must contribute 1% to 2% of their annual turnover to the Social Security Fund for gig workers.
20. The e-Shram Portal issues a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) to unorganized workers.
21. The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 raises the prior government approval threshold for layoffs/closures from 100 to 300 workers.
22. Fixed-term employees are entitled to pro-rata gratuity after 1 year of continuous service (instead of 5 years).
23. Industrial Relations Code mandates a 14-day advance notice for strikes and lockouts across all industrial units.
24. A trade union needs at least 51% worker support to be recognized as the sole negotiating union.
25. The OSHWC Code, 2020 mandates free annual health check-ups for workers aged 40 years and above.
26. Women are legally permitted to work night shifts (7 PM to 6 AM) across all sectors with consent and safety safeguards.
27. The e-Shram Microsites and Occupational Shortage Index (OSI) are managed by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
28. The Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme (Budget 2024–25) provides Part A incentives for first-time workers and Part B for employers.
29. Telangana's LFPR is historically higher than the national average due to significant rural female labor participation in agriculture.
30. Self-employed workers constitute the largest share (~57–58%) of India's total employed workforce.

5. PYQ-Based Bits

• Telangana LFPR vs All-India Level (PL 2023 Q91):
  • According to recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) rounds, Telangana's Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) and Worker Population Ratio (WPR) consistently exceed national averages, driven by high rural female participation in agricultural and allied activities.
• Unemployment Rate Formula Denominator (AO 2023 Q37 / Standard PSCs):
  • In official NSO labor statistics, the Unemployment Rate is calculated as the ratio of unemployed persons to the Labour Force (Employed + Unemployed), NOT to the total population.
• Retrenchment Threshold under IR Code 2020 (UPSC 2021 / State PSCs):
  • The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 increased the threshold requirement for commercial/industrial establishments to seek prior government permission before lay-off, retrenchment, or closure from 100 workers to 300 workers.
• Fixed-Term Employment Gratuity Threshold (UPSC 2020 / State PSCs):
  • Under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Amendment Rules and the Industrial Relations Code 2020, fixed-term employees are entitled to statutory gratuity on a pro-rata basis if they render continuous service for 1 year.
• PLFS Launch & Conducting Agency (UPSC 2019 / State PSCs):
  • The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was launched in April 2017 and is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• CWS Employment Criterion (State PSCs / SSC):
  • Under the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach used in PLFS, a person is classified as employed if they pursued any economic activity for at least 1 hour on any single day during the 7-day reference week.

6. Exam Analysis

• Priority: HIGH (Unit 10.4 is a core, high-yield conceptual, factual, and legislative subtopic tested continuously across civil services general studies and economics papers).
• Frequently Tested Subtopics:
  1. Formulas and definitions of labor indicators: LFPR, WPR, Unemployment Rate (UR), and Proportion Unemployed.
  2. Four New Labour Codes (2019–2020): Laws merged (29 into 4), 300-worker retrenchment threshold, fixed-term pro-rata gratuity (1 year), and 50% allowance cap on basic wages.
  3. Gig, Platform & Unorganized Worker Frameworks: Statutory definitions, Social Security Fund, and e-Shram UAN registration.
  4. PLFS Methodology & Revamp: NSO/MoSPI, 2017 launch, CWS 1-hour threshold, quarterly urban vs annual rural+urban, and 2025 monthly CWS revamp.
  5. Wage Hierarchy: Minimum Wage vs. Fair Wage vs. Living Wage vs. National Floor Wage.
• Common Question Patterns: Direct statement-verification questions on Labour Code provisions, numerical threshold identification (100 vs 300 workers, 1 year gratuity, 50% wage cap), formula matching for LFPR/UR, and PLFS methodology features.
• Factual / Conceptual / Numerical / Statement Tendency: Heavily Statement-Based Legislative & Conceptual combined with Exact Numerical Thresholds & Survey Metrics (300 workers, 14-day strike notice, 2.65x sample size, 1-hour CWS threshold).
• Simple Frequency Terms: Four Labour Codes Provisions (Very Frequent); PLFS Framework & Indicators (Very Frequent); Wage Concepts (Minimum vs Living) (Frequent); Gig/Platform & e-Shram Initiatives (Frequent).

7. Exam Traps

• Confusion: Believing that the Unemployment Rate is calculated as a percentage of the total national population. → Correct understanding: The Unemployment Rate is calculated using the Labour Force (Employed + Unemployed) as the denominator, NOT the total population. UR = (Unemployed / Labour Force) * 100.

• Confusion: Assuming that the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 requires establishments with 100 workers to seek government approval for retrenchment. → Correct understanding: The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 raised the prior government approval threshold for layoffs, retrenchments, and closures from 100 workers to 300 workers.

• Confusion: Believing that fixed-term employees require 5 years of continuous service to be eligible for gratuity. → Correct understanding: Under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, fixed-term employees are entitled to pro-rata gratuity after just 1 year of continuous service.

• Confusion: Assuming that gig and platform workers are legally classified as regular employees under the Labour Codes. → Correct understanding: Gig and platform workers are recognized as non-traditional workers outside the standard employer-employee relationship, granted social security coverage via the dedicated Social Security Fund and e-Shram.

• Confusion: Believing that the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. → Correct understanding: PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The Ministry of Labour and Employment handles e-Shram, labor codes, and the Labour Bureau.

8. Rapid Revision

1. Labour Force: Employed persons + Unemployed persons seeking work.
2. LFPR Formula: [(Employed + Unemployed) / Working-Age Population] * 100.
3. WPR Formula: (Employed / Total Population) * 100.
4. Unemployment Rate Formula: (Unemployed / Labour Force) * 100.
5. PLFS Launch: April 2017 by NSO (MoSPI), replacing quinquennial NSSO surveys.
6. PLFS Frequency: Quarterly for urban CWS; Annual for rural + urban UPSS/CWS.
7. PLFS 2025 Revamp: Monthly all-India CWS estimates, quarterly rural estimates, calendar year reporting, 2.65x sample size, district stratum.
8. Minimum Wage: Statutory legal floor under Code on Wages, 2019 to prevent exploitation.
9. Fair Wage: Lies between minimum and living wage; based on industry paying capacity.
10. Living Wage: Comprehensive wage ensuring dignified living, health, education, and savings (ILO framework).
11. National Floor Wage: Statutory baseline set by Central Government; states cannot set minimum wages lower than this floor.
12. Consolidated Labour Codes: 29 Central Labour Laws merged into 4 Unified Codes.
13. Code on Wages, 2019: Universal coverage (100% workers), National Floor Wage, 2x overtime rate.
14. Wage Definition Cap: Allowances cannot exceed 50% of total employee remuneration.
15. Code on Social Security, 2020: Defines gig & platform workers; Social Security Fund (1–2% aggregator turnover).
16. e-Shram Portal: National database for unorganized workers issuing 12-digit UAN numbers.
17. Industrial Relations Code, 2020: Retrenchment approval threshold raised from 100 to 300 workers.
18. Fixed-Term Employment Gratuity: Pro-rata gratuity eligible after 1 year of continuous service.
19. Strike / Lockout Notice: 14-day advance notice required across all industrial units.
20. Sole Negotiating Union: Requires >= 51% worker support in an establishment.
21. OSHWC Code, 2020: Free annual health check-ups for workers aged 40+ years.
22. Night Shifts for Women: Permitted across all sectors with explicit consent and safety safeguards.
23. Occupational Shortage Index (OSI): MoL&E tool aligned with ILO guidelines and PLFS data to identify skill gaps.
24. ELI Scheme (Budget 2024-25): Part A (first-time workers up to Rs 15,000) and Part B (employers).
25. Telangana LFPR Pattern: Consistently higher than national average due to strong rural female participation in agriculture.