WORKER (CENSUS DEFINITION)

The first definition of ‘worker’ by Census was given in 1872. Over time the term ‘work’ and ‘worker’ as defined by Census of India have undergone several amendments to suit the changing dimensions of work. ‘Work’ is defined as participation in any economically productive activity with or without compensation, wages or profit. Such participation may be physical and/or mental in nature. Work involves not only actual work but also includes

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(i) Effective supervision and direction of work;

(ii) Part time help or unpaid work on farm, family enterprise or in any other economic activity; and

(iii) Cultivation or milk production even solely for domestic consumption.

Accordingly, as per Census of India, all persons engaged in ‘work’ defined as participation in any economically productive activity with or without compensation, wages or profit are workers. The Reference period for determining a person as worker and non-worker is one year preceding the date of enumeration.

The Census classifies ‘Workers’ into two groups namely, Main Workers (those workers who had worked for the major part of the reference period, i.e., 6 months or more) and Marginal Workers (those workers who had not worked for the major part of the reference period i.e. less than 6 months). The Main workers are classified on the basis of Industrial category of workers into the following four categories: (i) Cultivators; (ii) Agricultural Labourers;

(iii) Household Industry Workers; and (iv) Other Workers. [See entry ‘Non-Worker’ also.]