Struggle has no end for workers: Thought of May Day

Struggle has no end for workers: Thought of May Day

Bruhaspati Samal

General Secretary

Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers

Odisha State Coordination Committee, Bhubaneswar

eMail:bsamalbbsr@gmail.com

Mobile:9437022669

The International Labour Day, also known as May Day, is a global celebration of the labour movement and the achievements of workers. Its roots can be traced back to the late 19th century when workers around the world began to organize and advocate for better working conditions, fair wages, and the rights of labourers.  

The origins of International Labour Day can be found in the struggle for the eight-hour workday. During the Industrial Revolution, workers often endured grueling conditions, including excessively long hours with minimal pay. In the United States, the movement for an eight-hour workday gained momentum in the late 19th century, culminating in the Haymarket affair of 1886 in Chicago. On May 1st of that year, workers staged a nationwide strike demanding an eight-hour workday. The protests escalated, leading to a violent confrontation between police and demonstrators, resulting in several deaths and injuries. Despite the tragic outcome, the Haymarket affair galvanized the labour movement and inspired future generations of workers to fight for their rights. Following the events of the Haymarket affair, the International Socialist Congress declared May 1st as International Workers' Day to commemorate the struggle for the eight-hour workday and honour the sacrifices made by labour activists. Since then, International Labour Day has been celebrated annually in countries around the world, serving as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for workers' rights and social justice.

The significance of International Labour Day extends beyond its historical origins. It serves as a rallying point for workers to unite and advocate for their interests. From the early labour movements to present-day labour unions and organizations, International Labour Day provides a platform for workers to voice their concerns, raise awareness about labour issues, and push for meaningful change. One of the key aspects of International Labour Day is its emphasis on solidarity among workers, regardless of their nationality, occupation, or background. The celebration transcends borders and brings together people from diverse walks of life who share a common goal of achieving social and economic justice. By fostering solidarity and collective action, International Labour Day empowers workers to confront systemic injustices and strive for a more equitable society. Moreover, International Labour Day serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made in advancing workers' rights and improving working conditions. Over the years, labour movements have successfully campaigned for important reforms, such as the establishment of minimum wages, workplace safety regulations, and the right to collective bargaining. These achievements demonstrate the power of organized labour to effect positive change and improve the lives of millions of workers worldwide.

However, while much progress has been made, the struggle for workers' rights is far from over. In many parts of the world, workers continue to face exploitation, unsafe working conditions, and inadequate wages. Additionally, the rise of globalization and technological advancements has presented new challenges for the labour movement, such as precarious employment and the erosion of traditional job security. In Indian context, the condition of labour is complex and multifaceted, influenced by various socio-economic factors, historical legacies, and governmental policies. While significant progress has been made in certain areas, challenges persist, particularly regarding informal employment, low wages, inadequate social security, and workplace safety issues. Here's an overview of the condition of labour in India:

A substantial portion of India's workforce is engaged in the informal sector, which lacks job security, social benefits, and legal protections. Informal workers, including agricultural labourers, construction workers, street vendors, and domestic workers, often face exploitation, low wages, and precarious working conditions. They are more vulnerable to economic shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, due to their lack of social security and access to healthcare. Despite economic growth and development, wage levels for many workers remain low, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and informal manufacturing. Minimum wage laws exist, but enforcement is often weak, leading to widespread non-compliance by employers. As a result, many workers struggle to meet their basic needs and are unable to lift themselves out of poverty despite their labour. Workplace safety and health standards are often inadequate in India, especially in sectors like construction, mining, and manufacturing. Workers are exposed to hazardous conditions, leading to accidents, injuries, and occupational illnesses. The lack of enforcement of safety regulations and the absence of mechanisms for redress exacerbate the risks faced by workers. Child labour remains a significant issue in India, despite legislative efforts to eradicate it. Millions of children are engaged in hazardous occupations, depriving them of education, health, and a childhood free from exploitation. Poverty, lack of access to education, and societal attitudes contribute to the persistence of child labour in various industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and domestic work. Gender disparities persist in the Indian labour market, with women facing discrimination, unequal pay, and limited access to formal employment opportunities. Women are overrepresented in informal and precarious jobs, such as domestic work and agriculture, where they often lack legal protections and face exploitation. Gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace further exacerbate the challenges faced by female workers. India has comprehensive labour laws (now proposed to be implemented as Labour Codes) aimed at protecting the rights of workers, including provisions for minimum wages, working conditions, and social security. However, enforcement of these laws is often weak, with inadequate resources, corruption, and bureaucratic hurdles hindering effective implementation. As a result, many workers are unable to access their rights and seek redress for labour violations. Internal migration for employment is widespread in India, with millions of workers migrating from rural to urban areas or across state borders in search of livelihood opportunities. Migrant workers often face exploitation, discrimination, and precarious living conditions in destination areas, highlighting the need for policies to protect their rights and ensure their social and economic integration.

While India has made strides in improving the condition of labour, significant challenges remain in ensuring decent work, fair wages, and social protection for all workers. Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts by governments, employers, civil society, and international organizations to strengthen labour laws, enhance enforcement mechanisms, promote decent work, and safeguard the rights and dignity of all workers, especially the most vulnerable.

It is worth mentioning here that the Trade unions play a crucial role in advocating for the rights and interests of workers and ensuring justice in the labour sector. Their responsibilities extend beyond mere representation of their members to actively engaging in collective bargaining, promoting social dialogue, and advocating for legislative reforms. The primary responsibilities of trade unions are to negotiate with employers on behalf of their members to secure better working conditions with healthy and safety workplaces, to protect the job security of workers by advocating against unfair dismissals, layoffs, and outsourcing practices, collective bargaining for fair wages that reflect the value of labour and enable workers to meet their basic needs and maintain a decent standard of living, extension of social security benefits to all workers, including access to healthcare, unemployment insurance, retirement pensions, and disability benefits, reasonable working hours and improved benefits. Through collective bargaining agreements, trade unions strive to ensure that workers are treated with dignity and respect in the workplace. The Trade unions may engage in political advocacy and lobbying efforts to influence government policies and legislation that impact workers' rights and interests. They have to campaign for labour-friendly laws, regulations, and social policies that promote decent work, economic justice, and social equality.

But unfortunately, the proposed labour codes by the Indian government aim to streamline and modernize labour laws, consolidating existing legislation into four codes to simplify compliance and improve the ease of doing business. While proponents argue that the codes will promote flexibility, boost employment, and enhance labour market efficiency, there are concerns about their potential impact on workers' rights and welfare. The proposed codes seek to introduce greater flexibility in labour regulations, allowing for easier hiring and firing practices, contract labour arrangements, and fixed-term employment contracts. While this flexibility may benefit employers by reducing labour costs and administrative burdens, it could also lead to increased job insecurity and precarious work arrangements for labourers, particularly those in the informal sector. The codes aim to rationalize wage and social security provisions, including minimum wages, social security benefits, and welfare schemes. While this could result in more uniformity and clarity in wage and benefit structures, there are concerns about potential reductions in wage levels and social security coverage, particularly for vulnerable workers in low-wage sectors. Consolidating labour laws into four codes is intended to simplify compliance for employers and reduce regulatory burdens. However, there are concerns that simplification may come at the expense of workers' rights and protections, with potential loopholes and ambiguities in the codes that could be exploited by unscrupulous employers to circumvent labour standards and evade responsibility. The proposed codes allow for greater use of fixed-term employment contracts and contract labour, which could lead to the contractualization of labour and erosion of permanent employment opportunities. This could undermine job stability, bargaining power, and social protections for workers, particularly in sectors where temporary or contract labour is prevalent. The codes introduce changes to the process of collective bargaining and unionization, including stricter requirements for union registration and greater restrictions on strike actions. These changes could weaken the bargaining power of trade unions and limit workers' ability to negotiate for better wages, working conditions, and benefits through collective action. The proposed codes aim to strengthen health and safety regulations in the workplace, including provisions for occupational safety and health standards, welfare facilities, and grievance redressal mechanisms. While this could improve workplace safety and address issues of occupational hazards and accidents, effective enforcement and implementation will be critical to ensure meaningful protection for workers. A significant proportion of India's workforce is employed in the informal sector, where labour regulations are often poorly enforced, and workers lack formal protections and social security benefits. The proposed codes may have limited applicability to informal sector workers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, unsafe working conditions, and inadequate wages. Thus,  while the proposed labour codes by the Indian government aim to modernize labour laws and promote ease of doing business, their impact on labourers will depend on the balance struck between flexibility for employers and protection for workers' rights and welfare. Effective enforcement, social dialogue, and stakeholder consultation will be essential to ensure that the codes promote inclusive and sustainable growth, while safeguarding the rights and dignity of all workers in India.

In conclusion, International Labour Day is a testament to the resilience and determination of the labour movement in its quest for justice and equality. From its humble beginnings as a protest for the eight-hour workday to its role as a global celebration of workers' rights, International Labour Day remains as relevant today as it was over a century ago. As we commemorate this day, let us honor the legacy of those who fought for the rights of workers and recommit ourselves to the ongoing struggle for social and economic justice for all.

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