Tamil Nadu government did not consult economic advisory council before it amended Factories Act: Jean Drèze

The economic advisory council of the Tamil Nadu government, which boasts the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) co-founder and co-director, Esther Duflo, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan and development economist Jean Drèze, among others, was established to advise Chief Minister Stalin on economic matters concerning the Indian state of Tamil Nandu. On 24 April, Stalin halted further action on the Factories (Tamil Nandu Amendment) Act 2023, which aimed at flexible work hours in factories. Drèze hoped that the Tamil Nandu government will defend the amendment, warning that in its current form, it would jeopardise women's labour rights in particular.