Far from being dead and gone, slavery exists in many forms and is flourishing. A disturbing report on modern slavery compiles facts and figures and documents data about new forms of slavery all over the world. Even more disturbing is the fact that India figures in very high on slavery index. It says that almost 61% of those living in modern slavery are in 5 countries: India, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan...

-The Hindu Business Line There has to be a reasonable compromise between the two In seeking to industrialise in a hurry, the government is pushing for changes in land acquisition and environment laws that are politically shortsighted and economically flawed. The proposed changes in the Right to Fair Compensation in the Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act involve diluting the consent clause in the case of PPP projects to 50 per cent...

-Business Standard Minister meets union leaders who warn him of confrontation ahead; Dattatreya says amendments to be taken up in coming Parliament session The Union government is going ahead with the pending labour law amendments in the coming session (from next Tuesday) of Parliament, despite strong opposition from trade unions. "The amendments are long-pending issues which the previous government couldn't sort out.... We have already passed the Apprentices Act in the Lok Sabha.......

-The Indian Express Kolkata: The government on Wednesday passed the West Bengal Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2014, in which the ambit for exemption has been widened. In addition, the government has also been lenient with industrialists who have plans to sit idle with their land. Earlier, while industriaists were allowed to keep the allotted land unused under Section 14Y for a maximum period of three years, under the new law they will...

-Economic and Political Weekly The current regime seeks to reform labour laws with the understanding that these reforms will improve industrial growth and expand the possibilities of enterprise. However, there is already ample evidence from within India that this obsession with reforming labour law, particularly in the way the government has done it till now, will not take us any closer in creating more jobs or a healthy industrial sector. These...