What is the meaning of a formal sector?

Answer 1

On the basis of employment conditions, activities in the economy are classified as organised and unorganised. The organised sector offers job security and employment benefits, while the unorganised sector is marked by low wages and lack of job security.

The organised sector covers those enterprises of work where the terms of employment are regular and where people have assured employment. It is registered, follows government rules and regulations, and has employees and employers union. It is called organised as it has some formal processes and procedures.

The employment conditions prevailing in the organised and unorganised sectors are vastly different. The organised sector has companies registered with the government and hence, it offers job security, paid holidays, pensions, health, fixed working hours, extra pay for overtime work, medical and other allowances, gratuity, superannuation, provident fund, and various other benefits.

In the organised sector, rules and regulations given in various laws by the government such as Factories Act, Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Gratuity Act, Shops Establishments Act, etc. Most of the services, industries, schools and factories fall under this category.