News of Work and the Work of News

Abstract

This study explores the changes sweeping through the realms of work in the newlinemanufacturing sector, more specifically automobiles, that saw some of the most newlinedramatic instances of labour action in recent history, as well the news media that are newlinefacing a widespread credibility crisis. The latter realm of work was studied not just for newlinebeing any other sector of business but because of their immense capacity for cultural newlineproduction through which they help the people audiences and citizens make sense newlineof the various events and phenomena that have significant bearings on their lives. The newlinekey objectives for the study were to understand and analyse the state of work in newlinecontemporary India? What are the stories that are being told about it? And what roles newlinedo we have or are expected to play in such stories? newline newlineThe larger concept that frames the study is that of neoliberalism that as a newlinepolitical-economic set of projects shape the macroeconomic policies and as a newlinegoverning rationality influence even the non-economic realms of activities and newlinerelations. While its political-economic effects can be seen in the changes taking place newlinein manufacturing, trading, and labour regimes, its pervasive influence on even the newlinemost mundane aspects of everyday life is also becoming quite palpable. newline newlineThe political-economic effects are most visible in the large automobile newlinemanufacturing cluster in the Delhi NCR, where large parts of core production work newlineare being carried out by a highly precarious workforce hired on short-term contracts. newlineThe production is organised such that the larger manufacturers keep their wage bills newlinelow and in a manner that the workers employed in the cluster remain fragmented. The newlinework is demanding, the working conditions are poor, and the wages are minimal. As newlineand when the workers have tried to form unions to develop a collective voice to newlinearticulate their concerns and negotiate with the employers, their efforts have been newlinefrustrated. The state, far from playing the role of a mediator between the employers newlineand w