25% of Haryana's informal workers cooped up in makeshift workplaces

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, June 23

Over 25 per cent (approximately 52 lakh) of Haryana’s informal workforce is working in unregulated home-based establishments, 24 per cent in construction, 30 per cent in agriculture and 21 per cent in other sectors. Of 3,500 startups in the state, nearly 2,800 are registered and functioning under the formal sector, while 700 are operating from informal spaces, primarily home-based establishments, employing nearly 10,000 people.

20% startups not registered

• 3,500 startups in state
• 2,800 registered, fall in formal sector
• 700 work from informal spaces

Accept home as workplace: FICCI

• FICCI has asked state to accept home as formal and affordable workplace
• The move will contribute to economy by way of higher GST and property tax collection

Keeping this in view, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) along with international property consultant JLL presented a research paper to the government, seeking regulation of the newly emerged sector of grey office market or work from home. It has recommended the state to accept home as a formal and affordable workplace. The move, according to FICCI, will contribute to the formal economy of the state in the form of an increase in GST and property tax collection as well as improving real estate bylaws. It will also benefit over 700 startups and six lakh unemployed professionals in Haryana.

The grey office market involve informal spaces operating from home-based setups primarily used by small-scale startups, unorganised workers and unemployed/remote workforce. A delegation led by Vineet Nanda, Chairman, Regional Urban Infra Committee, FICCI, presented the paper titled “Home: The New Workplace” to K Makrand Pandurang, Director General and Special Secretary, Town & Country Planning, Haryana, and Vishal Bansal, Principal Accountant General, (Audit). The research paper highlighted the informal office/affordable workspaces quantum in Haryana and intent to brainstorm for measures that could change the dynamics of the office industry and contribute to the state’s formal economy. Pandurang said, “The Haryana Government supports startup ecosystem. We will study the matter further with FICCI/JLL. We encourage the youth to join the formal sector and set up their units in the state.”

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