Unemployment Rights
The right to work is guaranteed to all the citizens of Annawadi through the Declaration of Human Rights, but some citizens have been unfairly fired and left unemployed, a problem that also exists in other parts of the world, outside India's slums. Article 23 in the Declaration of Human Rights states, “ Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions and to protection against unemployment. Everyone, without discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work”. The right to work is necessary for life because it is human nature to have an insatiable thirst to work towards a goal and to be productive.
Mr. Kamble, in Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers, thought he had found security when a maintenance worker for the city government who felt pity for him decided to give him a surname, a bride, and best of all, a permanent job. Mr. Kamble enjoyed his job as it gave him responsibilities and duties that gave him a purpose. Unfortunately, his job came to an end because of the discovery of his cardiovascular disease. His employer laid him off, only allowing him to return if he got a new heart valve and a doctor’s clearance. Mr. Kamble was unable to pay for the necessary medical care (explained in Right to Adequate Healthcare), but more importantly Mr. Kamble is left unemployed because he was discriminated against due to his medical condition. He was forced to try and procure a government loan so that he could pay the fifty thousand rupees for his operation. His employment was contingent on procuring his own medical treatment; however, the chances of raising that much money in an Indian slum while unemployed was impossible. Mr. Kamble faced employment discrimination and no protection against unemployment, both of which are guaranteed not to occur according to Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It is clear that in India, including Annawadi, that unemployment is a major concern. Although India is not alone in this regard, it should look to the policies in place and enforced in the United States, as an example of how to treat workers fairly. The United States continues to pass laws prohibiting discrimination in the workplace. Most recently, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was passed making discrimination against sexual orientation illegal. While the U.S. is further ahead in making the work place fairer, India should look towards some of the U.S.’s fundamental employment laws and most importantly, enforce them. The people of Annawadi are being deprived of the basic human rights stated in Article 23 of the Declaration of Human Rights, therefore, India should attempt to model countries like the U.S. to create working conditions that are nondiscriminatory and are in compliance with its own Declaration of Human Rights.
Mr. Kamble, in Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers, thought he had found security when a maintenance worker for the city government who felt pity for him decided to give him a surname, a bride, and best of all, a permanent job. Mr. Kamble enjoyed his job as it gave him responsibilities and duties that gave him a purpose. Unfortunately, his job came to an end because of the discovery of his cardiovascular disease. His employer laid him off, only allowing him to return if he got a new heart valve and a doctor’s clearance. Mr. Kamble was unable to pay for the necessary medical care (explained in Right to Adequate Healthcare), but more importantly Mr. Kamble is left unemployed because he was discriminated against due to his medical condition. He was forced to try and procure a government loan so that he could pay the fifty thousand rupees for his operation. His employment was contingent on procuring his own medical treatment; however, the chances of raising that much money in an Indian slum while unemployed was impossible. Mr. Kamble faced employment discrimination and no protection against unemployment, both of which are guaranteed not to occur according to Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It is clear that in India, including Annawadi, that unemployment is a major concern. Although India is not alone in this regard, it should look to the policies in place and enforced in the United States, as an example of how to treat workers fairly. The United States continues to pass laws prohibiting discrimination in the workplace. Most recently, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was passed making discrimination against sexual orientation illegal. While the U.S. is further ahead in making the work place fairer, India should look towards some of the U.S.’s fundamental employment laws and most importantly, enforce them. The people of Annawadi are being deprived of the basic human rights stated in Article 23 of the Declaration of Human Rights, therefore, India should attempt to model countries like the U.S. to create working conditions that are nondiscriminatory and are in compliance with its own Declaration of Human Rights.