Call for Applications | Research Assistant | Centre for Labour Studies

NLSIU invites applications for the position of Research Assistant under the Centre for Labour Studies for the specific purpose of assisting in preparing a draft labour policy for Karnataka. This is a full-time contractual assignment (at least 6 months) based out of NLSIU campus in Bangalore.

The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) is an interdisciplinary research centre at NLSIU. It engages with holistic labour jurisprudence for the entire workforce of 500 million with special focus on the deprivation of standards for the informal workers of India who constitute 90 per cent of the workforce. The centre focuses on issues of policy and law reform, including the drafting of new laws. Its value goals derive from our constitutional goals along with Core Labour Standards of the ILO. It seeks to actualise minimum wages and fair wages and a floor level of labour rights for all, along with decent conditions at work.

CLS is presently engaged in drafting an umbrella legislation for the informal workforce of India and on special laws relating to platform-based gig workers, migrant labour, contract labour, home based workers and agricultural labour. Specifically, it is playing a leading role in the tripartite exercise of drafting a Labour Policy for the Government of Karnataka.

Role Description

The Research Assistant will:

1. Summarise international and national standards, norms, guidelines pertaining to labour conditions to be observed by industries, governments, and trade unions.
2. Collate and review existing evidence-based research documenting issues facing different segments of industry in Karnataka.
3. Document and produce timebound reports with focus on expected outcomes and relevant follow up.
4. Maintain steady liaison and continuing contact with all stakeholders identified for tasks from time to time.
5. Carry out research which adds value to contemporary issues of labour that arise during meetings with informal workers, employers’ associations and their organisations and share such outcomes.
6. Liaison with the communication department of NLSIU for enhanced visibility of ongoing labour research and related outcomes.

The Research Assistant will work under the supervision of Prof Babu Mathew, Co-Director, CLS.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Master’s degree in law and/or social sciences from a recognized university OR five year LL.B degree with field work experience in legal activism.
• Demonstrable academic interest and experience in the field of labour law pertaining to non-standard forms of employment (informal workers, etc).

Desirable:

• Fluency in Kannada including writing, reading, and speaking.
• Knowledge of legal and policy standards pertaining to labour law in India and globally.
• Research and/or practical experience on issues affecting workers in the unorganised sector and daily wage labourers.
• Experience with writing legal and/or policy-based reports.
• Demonstrable proficiency and previous experience in using of G-Suite, MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Good communication, organising and time management skills.

How to Apply?

Please use the Google form available here, and include the following documents:

• An updated CV
• A short statement of purpose (not more than 500 words)
• Writing sample of not more than 1000 words

Deadline

The last date for the submission of the application is 5:00 PM, March 28th (Thursday), 2024.