Invisible Labour: Support Service Workers in India's Information Technology Industry

This book explores the lives, working conditions, and urban experiences of support service workers in the information technology (IT) sector of India, including janitors, security guards, culinary workers, and carpool drivers. It uses quantitative and qualitative analyses to assess their responses to migration from rural occupations and the challenges they face in a modern urban environment. The volume discusses how their displacement from rural life has placed them in a space of contestation between traditions and the opportunities offered by digital society. It also traces the evolution of new areas of class and identity formations imposed by contractors and corporations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of the lives, working conditions, and urban experiences of a diverse group of support service workers, including janitors, security guards, culinary workers, and carpool drivers, who play pivotal roles in the thriving information technology (IT) sector of India. These individuals, often overlooked in academic discourse, are essential to the success of the Indian IT industry. Through in-depth interviews conducted in seven Indian cities with a significant concentration of software service companies, this volume offers a comprehensive exploration of the experiences of migrant workers as they navigate the transition from rural occupations to modern urban employment settings.

Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses, the book meticulously maps and assesses the responses of these workers to the transformative effects of migration. It sheds light on the daily struggles and challenges faced by these individuals in the context of the homogenizing forces of globalization, which often create an alienating urban environment. The book also delves into the complex interplay between traditions and the opportunities and challenges offered by digital society, encompassing freedom, individualism, flexibility, and innovation.

Tracing the evolution of new areas of class and identity formations, the book uncovers the hegemonic relations imposed by contractors and corporations within this ethos. It sheds light on the struggles and negotiations that these workers engage in as they navigate the complex terrain of urban life, striving to establish a sense of belonging and stability amidst the rapidly changing social and economic landscape.

This book holds immense value for scholars and researchers across a wide range of disciplines, including sociology, social anthropology, urban studies, development studies, labor studies, social exclusion, and South Asian studies. It provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the lives and experiences of support service workers in India, shedding light on the often-overlooked contributions of these individuals to the country's economic and social development. By highlighting the challenges and triumphs of these workers, the book contributes to our broader understanding of the complexities of urban life, migration, and the evolving dynamics of contemporary societies.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367551384