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

Academics urge Azim Premji University to drop FIR against Student Reading Circle

By A Representative A group of academics and civil society members has issued an open letter to the leadership of Azim Premji University expressing concern over the filing of a police complaint that led to an FIR against a student-run reading circle following a recent incident of violence on campus. The signatories state that they hold the university in high regard for its commitment to constitutional values, critical inquiry and ethical public engagement, and argue that it is precisely because of this reputation that the present development is troubling.

Was Netaji forced to alter face, die in obscurity in USSR in 1975? Was he so meek?

By Rajiv Shah This should sound almost hilarious. Not only did Subhas Chandra Bose not die in a plane crash in Taipei, nor was he the mysterious Gumnami Baba who reportedly passed away on 16 September 1985 in Ayodhya, but we are now told that he actually died in 1975—date unknown—“in oblivion” somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Which city? Moscow? No one seems to know.

UAPA action against Telangana activist: Criminalising legitimate democratic activity?

By A Representative The National Investigation Agency's Hyderabad branch has issued notices to more than ten individuals in Telangana in connection with FIR No. RC-04/2025. Those served include activists, former student leaders, civil rights advocates, poets, writers, retired schoolteachers, and local leaders associated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Indian National Congress.

Asbestos contamination in children’s products highlights global oversight gaps

By A Representative A commentary published by the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) has drawn attention to the challenges governments face in responding effectively to global public-health risks. In an article written by Laurie Kazan-Allen and published on March 5, 2026, the author examines how the discovery of asbestos contamination in children’s play products has raised questions about regulatory oversight and international product safety. The article opens by reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that governments in several countries were slow to respond to early warning signs of the crisis. Referring to the experience of the United Kingdom, the author writes that delays in implementing protective measures contributed to “232,112 recorded deaths and over a million people suffering from long Covid.” The commentary uses this example to illustrate what it describes as the dangers of underestimating emerging threats. Attention then turns...

Aligning too closely with U.S., allies, India’s silence on IRIS Dena raises troubling questions

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The reported sinking of the Iranian ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka raises troubling questions about international norms and the credibility of the so-called rule-based order. If indeed the vessel was attacked by the American Navy while returning from a joint exercise in Visakhapatnam, it would represent a serious breach of trust and a violation of the principles that govern such cooperative engagements. Warships participating in these exercises are generally not armed for combat; they are meant to symbolize solidarity and friendship. The incident, therefore, is not only shocking but also deeply ironic.

The kitchen as prison: A feminist elegy for domestic slavery

By Garima Srivastava* Kumar Ambuj stands as one of the most incisive voices in contemporary Hindi poetry. His work, stripped of ornamentation, speaks directly to the lived realities of India’s marginalized—women, the rural poor, and those crushed under invisible forms of violence. His celebrated poem “Women Who Cook” (Khānā Banātī Striyāṃ) is not merely about food preparation; it is a searing indictment of patriarchal domestic structures that reduce women’s existence to endless, unpaid labour.

India’s foreign policy at crossroads: Cost of silence in the face of aggression

By Venkatesh Narayanan, Sandeep Pandey The widely anticipated yet unprovoked attack on Iran on March 1 by the United States and Israel has drawn sharp criticism from several quarters around the world. Reports indicate that the strikes have resulted in significant civilian casualties, including 165 elementary school girls, 20 female volleyball players, and many other civilians.

India’s green energy push faces talent crunch amidst record growth at 16% CAGR

By Jag Jivan* A new study by a top consulting firm has found that India’s cleantech sector is entering a decisive growth phase, with strong policy backing, record capacity additions and surging investor interest, but facing mounting pressure on talent supply and rising compensation costs .

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Search This Blog