Who is a casual wage labourer?
A casual wage labourer is a worker who is casually engaged in others' farms or enterprises to earn their livelihood. They account for about 22 per cent of India's workforce. Unlike regular salaried employees, these workers are not engaged on a permanent or regular basis.
They receive remuneration only for the specific work done. Examples include construction workers, headload workers, and agricultural labourers who often work for more than one employer. Economists describe them as the most vulnerable category of workers due to the lack of job security and regular income.
Explanation
The answer is derived from the textbook's definition distinguishing casual labourers from self-employed and regular salaried employees. It highlights key characteristics found in the text: the irregular nature of engagement, payment based on work done rather than a regular salary, and their status as the most vulnerable group. Examples like construction workers and headload workers are explicitly mentioned in the context to illustrate the category.