The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Labor Welfare: Indian Perspective

Digvijaysinh Thakore

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India has transitioned from something voluntary and charitable, to something corporate as a matter of law, made to be an obligation under the Companies Act of 2013. Traditionally it has been the case that CSR has been a focus of environmental sustainability, education and community development, but its effect of promoting labor welfare is now more widely appreciated. Labor welfare covers a spectrum from health and safety to social security and skills upgrading and socio-economic safety nets for employees and workers, in a developing nation like India, where most of the workforce is in informal and unorganised sectors. CSR initiatives in an organization can complement the statutory labor welfare legislation. This paper examines the conceptual linkages between CSR and labor welfare and the legal and policy framework that oversees CSR in India. It explores how CSR approaches support employee and worker well-being – including workplace wellness programs, occupational health and safety protocols, skill development projects, and community-based assistance for workers’ families. The paper also reports examples in Indian companies to show how CSR can be implemented in practice to contribute to labor welfare. Also, it highlights challenges in execution, such as misalignment of CSR objectives, suboptimal impact assessments, limited engagement of workers, and inconsistent coverage among different sectors. Recommendations to improve the integration of labor welfare aspects with CSR initiatives are made in the study, including suggestions for policies and managerial strategies. When CSR is carefully crafted and is carried out inclusively, it suggests that it is capable of significantly improving labor welfare whilst also supporting sustainable and equitable industrial growth.

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