Ahmedabad construction workers show signs of unrest, unite to demand higher wages, social protection

By A Representative
In what seemed to be their first-ever show of strength, representatives of Ahmedabad’s construction workers, over 1,000 of them, came together to demand a sharp rise in their wage from around Rs 200 to Rs 250, which they get now, to Rs 500. Organized by the Majur Adhikar Manch, which claims to represent them, the demands included provision of basic amenities, including livable shelter for eight to nine months of the year they work in Ahmedabad, proper sanitation and drinking water facilities, apart from better working conditions, health facilities, school and anganwadi (creche) for their children near their workplace.
“Most of the workers come from faraway places such as Gujarat’s eastern tribal belt, and parts of Saurashtra, apart from neighbouring states, especially Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Driven by lack of employment opportunities at their place of living, they brought to Ahmedabad with the promise of a viable job opportunity. Even then, in Ahmedabad they get employment for just about 15 to 20 days, not beyond. All this makes their situation particularly vulnerable”, said a representation they made to the Manch before Ahmedabad district collector. The meeting, called by the Manch, was held near Subhash Bridge in the city.
The representation regretted, the construction workers are not covered under any law, including the factories Act, the contract workers’ Act, the inter-state migrant workers’ Act or the minimum wages Act. “These laws are rarely enforced. The workers do not form part of the workforce of the builders on whose sites they work. They are all contract workers, and small time contractors hold complete control over them. No labour laws are applied to protect them. They are not entitled to any leave if they wish to go to their home in case an emergency befalls. In fact, they virtually work as bonded labourers – often they do not get their wages till the contractor does not recover his part of the commission”, the representation said.
Referring to a Government of India directive under the construction workers’ Act, 1996, under which a welfare board for construction workers was established by the Gujarat government in 2005, the representation said, “Till 2008, not one construction worker was provided with any social protection by making him member of the board, as required by the law. On August 21, 2008, the Gujarat government came up with a resolution which said that those workers who have worked for 90 days at a stretch and provide certificate can be members of the board to avail of social protection”, the representation said. However, as most construction workers could not bring any such certificate, not more than 2000 of them could be its members. “This working of the board suggests that the government, the builders and the contractors work in unison to exploit the construction workers”, the representation alleged.
Apart from demanding higher wages for the construction workers, the list of demands include a provision of Rs 1,000 per day as per day wage to masons, registration of all construction workers in properly maintained attendance registers, providing workers with attendance cards, providing them with salary slips along with salary, which should clearly state their relationship with the owner. “They should all be made members of the welfare board so that they are covered under the insurance schemes provided by it”, the demand said, adding, “A large number of construction workers become victim of accidents. They do not get any compensation. Provision should be made for that, too.”
Among those who addressed the meet included Nitin Gurjar, Narendra Saankhaliya and Amrish Patel of the Gujarat Federation of Trade Unions, and Ambalal Chouhan, president Eent Bhatta (brik kiln) Majur Union Gujarat. During their speeches, they denounced the builders and the government for failing to address the abominable work conditions and low wages, and lack of social security, as well as absence of health, childcare and educational facilities in spite of the right to education Act.
Secretary of the Majur Adhikar Manch Ashok Samrat told the workers that the deputy labour commissioner, Ahmedabad, has invited the union for tripartite talks with the builder's association, as it has threatened to go on an indefinite strike if the demands are not heeded. A labourers' committee with union representatives and labourers from different parts of the city was formed to coordinate the future action plan. The meeting ended following a decision to go on strike in the new year in case talks with the authorities concerned fails.

Comments

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Lata Mangeshkar, a Dalit from Devdasi family, 'refused to sing a song' about Ambedkar

By Pramod Ranjan* An artist is known and respected for her art. But she is equally, or even more so known and respected for her social concerns. An artist's social concerns or in other words, her worldview, give a direction and purpose to her art. History remembers only such artists whose social concerns are deep, reasoned and of durable importance. Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was a celebrated playback singer of the Hindi film industry. She was the uncrowned queen of Indian music for over seven decades. Her popularity was unmatched. Her songs were heard and admired not only in India but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries. In this article, we will focus on her social concerns. Lata lived for 92 long years. Music ran in her blood. Her father also belonged to the world of music. Her two sisters, Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar, are well-known singers. Lata might have been born in Indore but the blood of a famous Devdasi family...

School closures across states raise concerns amid Govt of India claims of improved access

By A Representative A recent report has raised concerns over the closure and merger of government schools in several Indian states, particularly in Bihar, where a significant number of institutions have reportedly been shut down or earmarked for closure.

Health activist group raises concerns over HPV vaccination drive, seeks temporary halt

By A Representative Swasthya Adhikar Manch, a public health advocacy group, has urged the Union government to ensure greater accountability and transparency in the ongoing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, and called for its temporary suspension pending a comprehensive review. In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the group flagged what it described as unresolved concerns surrounding the nationwide rollout of the HPV vaccine, which began on February 28, 2026. The campaign targets 14-year-old girls and involves administering Gardasil, a quadrivalent vaccine intended to protect against certain strains of HPV linked to cervical cancer.

Search This Blog