How many husbands has Indrani had? Good question Why did the trade unions call the strike? Good question

Sambit Saha, Jayanta Roy Chowdhury and R. Suryamurthy, TT, Sept. 2: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley today told captains of the automobile industry: "I am not so sure most of you are even aware there was a Bharat Bandh today. It had a marginal or an inconsequential impact."

Bengal would beg to differ with Jaitley and hold aloft its deserted streets as exhibit number one.

However, had Jaitley said: "I am not so sure most of you are even aware why the Bharat Bandh was called today", chances are that many in Bengal would have joined the national mainstream and scratched their heads.

The dozen-plus demands listed by the 10 trade unions suggest that Wednesday's "general strike" (not a bandh, Mr Jaitley) has been called on several flimsy excuses. Some of the reasons are shorn of any economic logic, which suggests the labour movement is being used for political ends.

Demand: Urgent measures for containing price rise through universalisation of the public distribution system (PDS) and banning speculative trade in commodities.

On the ground: Barring onions and pulses, prices are under control now because of the turmoil in the Chinese economy - which drives the demand for and prices of commodities globally. Retail inflation in India was 3.78 per cent in July, much below the RBI's target of 6 per cent in January 2016.

The ability of the PDS to check inflation is debatable. An NSS study has shown that PDS cards are mainly used for kerosene because the price difference compared to the open market is high.

Moreover, the PDS mechanism is leaky and often fails to deliver food subsidy to the poor. The government is trying to introduce an Aadhaar-based digital system to plug the leaks.

Commodity futures provide an effective tool to hedge against the rise or fall in prices. This is accepted globally. Commodity markets also provide an investment opportunity, apart from stocks and fixed income avenues.

Demand: Contain unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation.

On the ground: A general strike is one of the biggest destroyers of employment. Industry body Assocham had estimated a loss of Rs 25,000 crore because of Wednesday's strike. Industry says strikes should be averted at all costs if India wants to grow and create jobs.

Demand: Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.

On the ground: Laws cannot be enforced through strikes. Enforcement has to be done case by case. If the unions mean what they say, their units should monitor working conditions on the factory floor and file specific complaints - which require diligence and perseverance. Calling a strike once in a while is not a sign of diligence.

Demand: Universal social security cover for all workers.

On the ground: The government has introduced life and accident insurance and a pension scheme for all citizens at a nominal cost.

Demand: Minimum wage of not less than Rs 15,000 per month with provisions of indexation (linked to the inflation rate).

On the ground: Unlike most other demands, this one is certain to resonate among millions of workers in the country. It is the responsibility of trade unions to drive a hard bargain on behalf of the workers.

However, negotiations, rather than a strike, will eventually show results. The Centre had already said that it was considering changes that would raise the minimum wage to Rs 273 a day from the prevailing Rs 160 a day. Besides, if a state government wants to raise the amount further, it can do so.

The proposed central figure would mean Rs 8,190 a month, far below the Rs 15,000 demanded by the unions.

While workers are entitled to proper remuneration, industry feels that an unrealistic increase would be counter-productive.

"If the minimum wages were to be hiked in line with what the trade unions have demanded, minimum wages in Delhi's shops and factories, which are among the highest in the country, would increase 74 per cent.... Most small employers would either have to lay off workers to keep costs steady or outsource more work instead of employing regular employees," said Sarabjit Singh, an industrialist in the capital.

"High wages and uninformed laws would push more workers off wage rolls into the vagaries of contractual employment or outsourced work," said N.R. Bhanumurthy of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.

The World Bank says India has one of the most rigid labour markets in the world. That has been a drag on manufacturing, which accounts for only 16 per cent of India's $2-trillion economy, compared with 32 per cent of China's.

The rigid laws have prompted most players to stay outside the organised sector where rules apply. Some 84 per cent of India's manufacturers employ fewer than 50 workers, compared with 25 per cent in China, according to a study published by consultancy firm McKinsey & Co.

Demand: Assured enhanced pension of not less than Rs 3,000 a month for the entire working population.

On the ground: The government has already increased monthly pension to Rs 1,000 a month. Given the precarious nature of the government's finances, expectations of an increase may not be realistic.

The government has introduced a subsidised pension scheme under which a person can earn up to Rs 5,000 from the age of 60 by paying Rs 210 a month from the age of 18.

After the death of the subscriber, the spouse will get the pension till death. After their death, the nominee will get a lumpsum amount.

Demand: Stop divestment in central/state PSUs

On the ground: The government has so far decided not to let go of management control in any PSU. Selling a marginal stake would not cut down any benefits that the trade unions zealously want to guard.

Demand: Stop contractorisation in permanent perennial work and ensure payment of same wage and benefits to contract workers as well as regular workers for the same work

On the ground: The purpose of hiring contract workers is to cut costs and deal with seasonal surges in demand, according to industry. "There are a lot of industries such as fireworks manufacturers and exhibition designers which are either seasonal in nature, or such as auto makers and garment manufacturers where production increases in certain seasons. Not giving them the flexibility of hiring extra workers during their peak season would be killing," said management consultant Amajeet Banerjee.

Demand: Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund, increase the quantum of gratuity.

On the ground: The Centre said yesterday that the salary limit for bonus eligibility was being more than doubled to Rs 21,000 from Rs 10,000 a month. Moreover, the bonus ceiling limit (the maximum amount an employee can expect) is being increased from Rs 3,500 to Rs 10,000.

Demand: Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days from the date of submitting application; and immediate ratification of ILO Conventions C 87 and C 98

On the ground: The conventions deal with freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. India has not adopted them even though they were promulgated in the 1950s. A strike is being called 65 years late!

Demand: Stop pro-employer labour law amendments

On the ground: For all its bluster, the Modi government has not yet shown the stomach for labour reforms - or reforms on most fronts, for that matter.

Some "baby steps" are apparently being planned. These steps are aimed at giving freedom to factories with less than 300 workers to lay off workers and shut down operations without government permission. Currently, any workplace with more than 100 workers needs the permission. However, along with this modest reform will come a rule that will force firms to pay three times the current severance package, officials said.

Demand: Stop FDI in railways, insurance and defence.

On the ground: The government has already allowed 49 per cent FDI in defence and insurance sectors and 100 per cent in railways infrastructure. The strike is not expected to reverse this.