A Comparative Examination of Decent Work Index in Two Indian States of Punjab and Haryana

Purpose—The purpose of this paper is to comparatively examine the decent work index and its individual indexes in the north Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. This paper aims to shed light on areas that require attention to improve decent working conditions in both states. Design/methodology/approach- The study employs secondary data. Individual indexes using variables reflecting four decent work dimensions: employment, social security, workers’ rights, and social dialogue have been constructed using that data. Afterward, geometric mean was used to construct the Decent Work Index using individual indexes. Findings- The study finds a comparatively higher Decent Work Index in Punjab during the initial years taken under consideration. This is owing to better social security and LFPR index performance. However, post-2015, there has been improvement in the Decent Work Index in Haryana surpassing Punjab. This can be attributed to better wages for both agricultural and non-agricultural workers and a higher Union Density Index. However, the pandemic had a major negative impact on both the states but Punjab witnessed a stronger recovery after COVID in comparison to Haryana. Originality/value- The study comparatively sheds light on decent working conditions at sub- national level in two north Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. It also highlights the areas that require sufficient attention to overcome decent work deficits in both states.