Recruitment for Agniviri positions begins in Uttar Pradesh

The Federation of Western Indian Cinema Employees (FWICE) has expressed serious concern regarding the quality of food provided to staff, technical crew, and actors during film, television, and digital project shoots in Mumbai.

The Federation sent a letter to Tukaram Munde, Commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Department (FDA), demanding surprise inspections of filming locations and catering conditions.

According to information from FWICE, over the past few years, the federation has regularly received complaints about the quality of food on film and TV sets. The Federation claims that on some sets, workers are served food that is stale, undercooked, insufficiently nutritious, and unhygienic. They emphasize that such nutrition poses serious health and safety risks to employees who spend long periods filming.

Ashok Dubey, General Secretary of FWICE, stated that after receiving numerous complaints from affiliated organizations and federation members, they were compelled to approach the FDA. He noted that employees, technicians, and actors work on set for extended periods, and therefore, receiving safe, clean, and nutritious food at the workplace is their inherent right, not a luxury.

The Federation also raised the issue of a lack of basic dining facilities at many shooting locations. FWICE states that on several sites, employees are forced to eat in open areas lacking proper protection from dust, heat, and rain. Furthermore, there is a shortage of designated seating areas, dedicated eating spots, clean drinking water, and adequate sanitary facilities.

Ashok Dubey added that this problem goes beyond just food quality; it relates to the dignity and health of the people who play a key role in the functioning of the entertainment industry. He expressed hope that the FDA will take these complaints seriously, conduct site inspections, and hold production houses and catering agencies accountable.

FWICE demanded that the FDA conduct surprise checks not only at the Goregaon film city but also at other film and TV shooting locations in Mumbai and its surroundings. The Federation insists that FDA officials inspect kitchens, food preparation units, food storage systems, and catering services to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and standards.

Additionally, the federation requires that samples of food deemed unsafe, counterfeit, or unfit for consumption be taken and sent for testing. If violations are found, the federation insists on appropriate action against the relevant producer, catering service, or agency.

FWICE also appealed to the FDA to check dining conditions and other basic amenities on the sets. The Federation demands that production companies and catering agencies receive proper instructions to ensure adherence to established standards of cleanliness and food safety. FWICE called for immediate intervention by the FDA, stating its readiness to provide full cooperation in conducting inspections and granting officials access to the sets.

Some statistics released on the occasion of International Youth Day have given a new dimension to the employment situation among youth. The latest hiring data shows that job opportunities for freshers are increasing, although the pace of recruitment varies across different sectors. This means that merely getting a job is not enough; it is also important to know where employment opportunities are actually being created for the youth. The latest job statistics related to new candidates in India indicate that companies' intention to recruit has increased in the second half of 2026 compared to the previous period.

According to TeamLease EdTech's July-December 2026 Career Outlook Report, 75 percent of employers surveyed across the country expressed a willingness to hire new candidates in the second half of 2026. This figure is higher than the 73 percent recorded in the first half. This report is based on responses received from 1,097 companies between May and July 2026. Overall, the job market for new candidates has improved somewhat, but the actual situation depends on the observation of different sectors.

In terms of recruiting new candidates, E-commerce and tech startups, along with the retail sector, are leading with 93% each. This is followed by manufacturing at 89%, FMCG at 86%, and travel & hospitality at 81%. According to the data, the intention to recruit new candidates in e-commerce and tech startups has risen from 90% in the first half to 93%. In retail, this rate increased from 91% to 93%, while in manufacturing, it rose from 85% to 89%. A notable increase was also seen in the FMCG sector, where the hiring intention grew from 80% to 86%. Meanwhile, in the travel and hospitality sector, this rate climbed from 77% to 81%.

The pace of hiring new candidates in the IT sector, which is the most preferred among youth, has slowed down slightly this time. According to the report, the willingness of IT companies to hire freshers is 76%, down from 81% in the first half of the year, marking a 5% decline. Similarly, the hiring intent in consulting dropped from 22% to 19%, in the education sector from 23% to 21%, in media and entertainment from 54% to 52%, in marketing and advertising from 62% to 59%, and in telecom from 64% to 61%.

The list of most in-demand jobs for new candidates indicates the direction in which company needs are changing. The top five jobs listed in the report include AI Application Developer, Junior Semiconductor Design Engineer, Data Center Operation Associate, Programmatic Advertising Associate, and Inventory & Dispatch Executive. Additionally, companies are looking for new candidates for positions such as Cybersecurity Analyst, Full-Stack Developer, Quick-Commerce Operation Executive, Digital Media Analyst, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Digital Marketing Executive, Data Research Analyst, Automation & Control Engineer, Supply Chain Planner, and GIS Analyst.

From a city perspective, Bengaluru has the highest intention to recruit new candidates at 89%. This is followed by Mumbai at 75% and Chennai at 71%. Hyderabad stands at 60%, Delhi at 49%, and Pune at 41%. According to the report, the intention to recruit new candidates has increased in the second half compared to the first half of 2026 in all these six major cities.

Drivers working in the gig economy in Australia are now among the highest paid in the world following a tribunal decision described as 'world-leading'. These drivers work for online platforms such as Uber Eats and Hungry Panda and are traditionally considered independent contractors, meaning they do not receive standard employer benefits, including injury pay or leave.

However, the Australian Fair Work Commission has issued a ruling that not only significantly increases the hourly wage but also mandates employers to provide workplace accident insurance.

Starting August 17, gig economy workers in Australia will earn $31.30 AUD per hour (R357). Working eight hours a day for 22 days a month, this amounts to approximately $5500 AUD monthly (R62,800). This figure is higher than Australia's minimum wage of $26.44 AUD per hour (R302), which calculates to about R53,000 per month under the same conditions.

It is important to note that the cost of living in Australia is significantly higher than in countries like South Africa.

A Step in the Right Direction

National Union Secretary Michael Cain stated that 'gig economy workers in Australia have been outside our employment systems for too long.' He added that 'from Monday they will have an absolute world standard of conditions, which we will develop over time.'

Despite this decision being a significant victory for gig economy workers in Australia, similar workers in most other countries globally, including South Africa, do not yet have comparable guarantees. In 2023, the World Bank estimated that up to 435 million online gig workers worldwide were 'largely outside regular labour protection.'

According to AFP, in June, the International Labour Organization adopted a convention aimed at expanding job protection for gig economy workers. Since these workers are typically classified as independent contractors rather than employees, employers can often disregard requirements for minimum wage, workplace safety, and access to social security, reports AFP.

Changes Concerning South Africa

South African labour legislation provides some protection for gig economy workers. The Labour Relations Act includes a presumption that certain workers are employees rather than independent contractors, depending on factors such as control over work, working hours, and degree of integration into the business.

Nevertheless, many platform workers are currently classified as independent contractors and therefore do not benefit from standard labour protections, according to the Department of Labour. South Africa is also considering making substantial changes to its labour legislation. Proposed amendments would recognize gig economy workers as employees and grant dependent contractors more rights to organize and bargain collectively, although these changes have not yet taken effect.

Due to market forces, gig economy drivers in South Africa are unlikely to earn an amount close to their Australian counterparts, although it appears many earn more than the current minimum wage of R30.23 per hour, which equates to R5,320 per month working a standard 22 eight-hour days. The website FleetCalc, which provides financial and tax information for taxi drivers, estimates that Uber drivers in South Africa earn between R7,000 and R15,000 per month after expenses, with full-time drivers working over 50 hours a week earning an average of around R12,500 per month. This site notes that the figures are based on a 2025 survey conducted by the South African Taxi Drivers Association involving over 2000 drivers.