Story 6/10: Ramesh
"I got INR 420 for 8 hours before lockdown when our [metal making] unit was running full-fledged. Plus overtime for 3-4 hours, so with 12 hours I made INR 700. Now without enough work, there is no overtime, not even 8 hours. What I earn is what I spend." (1/5)
"I got INR 420 for 8 hours before lockdown when our [metal making] unit was running full-fledged. Plus overtime for 3-4 hours, so with 12 hours I made INR 700. Now without enough work, there is no overtime, not even 8 hours. What I earn is what I spend." (1/5)
Ramesh has been working in Khairani Road's metal fabrication industry (pictured) for over 11 years. At his current unit, he must 'punch' in to report to work: even a half hour delay costs him an hour of his wages. Currently, he is paid INR 420 for 8 hours plus overtime. (2/5) 
Without any work orders after the lockdown, there is not even 8 hours of work, let alone the 12 hours that would bring him at least INR 700 per day. "We spend INR 300 on food and rent, so to have any money in our hands we have to do overtime. 8 hours of work isn't enough." (3/5)
Moreover, since Ramesh's employer, a marginal player in the metal supply chain, cannot afford more workers w/o increased turnover, Ramesh says he must perform additional tasks for the same wages. "We are doing other work as well now, but how can we ask for a wage increase?" (4/5)
To cope with survival wages, Ramesh has had to add additional labour to his waged work: he sells t-shirts at a roadside stall for 3 hours on weekdays & 4 hours on Sundays. On a good day, he makes INR 300 from this work, but it has added over 22 hours to his week. (5/5)
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