The Moonlighting

An Interesting term in HR Moonlighting:

The word Moonlighting gives various meaning some may perceive as moonlight at night or some could feel a greater sense of romance with the word, what actually HR consider of Moon lightning is Totally different and out of perception of anybody who have not yet gone through.

Moon lightning is an act of employee of doing more than one job, in the process of moonlighting employee might separate his/ her interest from the main job. Even our Indian legislation also prohibited more than one employment trough its regulation and laws as The Indian Factory Act 1948, Industrial Dispute Act 1947 and others.

Now the question is,

“The earning of one job may not be able to satisfy socio Economic need of employee, so he looks for another source of income?”

“Double Employment can harm the interest of employer in connection with his employment because it is assumed that after working 8 hrs nobody can put same effort and may lead to physical and psychological misbalance of employee that will harm employer in relation .”

The two points are enough to lead our thinking in the direction of thinking about moonlighting from point of view, employer and employee. 

The today’s social economic scenario bounds a man to earn more as to serve his need as suggested by Abraham Maslow. The compulsion and social economic factor compels a man to work with more than one in order to bring their earning on a satisfying level.

On the other hand government of indie has set up wage regulation machinery through Minimum Wage act 1948 but it seems to be dummy legislation not because of the compliance but for the method by which they set minimum wages.

The updation in wages w.e.f. 1 April 2012 (Delhi)

Unskilled                                                         Semiskilled                                                      Skilled

270                                                                  298                                                                  328

That is around 8100, 8940 and 9840 respectively so far we look in the matter of unskilled the wages are seems to be justified but for semiskilled and skilled. Government should understand “as the educational level increases the level of needs and expectations also increases”, just think what a professional will do if he is getting 9,840 for a month, and even he shall not be able to find a shelter in a metro City like Delhi. When Government takes measure to design effective Minimum Wage structure it should take purchasing power and the social status incurred with education of professional skill of individual in to consideration or otherwise government is fail. If the wages designed as no sufficient to provide individual with effective purchasing power than what it the meaning of designing it as it take lot of time and heavy expenditure.   

The days has gone when employer were practicing Policing Theory of Labour Welfare  now leaving some unorganized or small industries (Turnover up to 500-700 Crore) every employer know the means of Labour welfare and understand their needs, they tend to practicing Philanthropic or Trusteeship Theory of Labour Welfare.

Government should take following steps to overcome these kinds of problems:

1.    Redefining the Term minimum Wage

2.    Should validate Moonlighting by enactment

3.    While setting up minimum wage purchasing power and education status should be taken in to consideration.

4.    Housing Income (Rent and Lease to salaried person) should be strictly monitored.

5.    Every employment and education should be grouped and waged should be defined accordingly.