'Resist repression, restore rights': NAPM demands rollback of labour reforms

By A Representative 

The civil rights network, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), has called for urgent nationwide resistance against what it describes as a steadily eroding labour rights framework in India. In a communication released on May 5, 2026, following observances of International Workers' Day, the network expressed solidarity with workers across sectors and regions, while sharply criticizing recent state actions against labour protests.

NAPM has demanded the immediate release of workers, trade unionists and activists arrested during ongoing protests, particularly in the National Capital Region, alleging widespread arbitrary detentions and the use of force to suppress legitimate dissent. 

The organisation pointed to a surge in labour unrest in recent months, citing data from the Migrant Workers Solidarity Network which recorded at least 28 major strikes and protests between January and March 2026, largely concentrated in power and construction sectors. 

Industrial clusters such as Noida–Manesar, Panipat and mining regions like Singrauli have witnessed significant mobilisations, reflecting what NAPM described as a deepening crisis marked by low wages, long working hours and unsafe conditions.

According to the statement, the state response has increasingly shifted from neglect to coercion. It cited incidents in April where police action in Haryana’s IMT Manesar led to the arrest of over 55 workers, including women, while more than 1,100 workers were reportedly detained in Noida by Uttar Pradesh police over several days. 

NAPM alleged procedural violations in several cases, including the absence of arrest memos and difficulties faced by families in locating detainees. The group also expressed concern over remarks by Yogi Adityanath, who reportedly characterised the protests as part of a broader conspiracy, warning that such narratives risk delegitimising democratic expressions of labour grievances.

The organisation further condemned the arrest of members associated with labour groups such as the Inquilabi Mazdoor Kendra, as well as activists, journalists and cultural figures, many of whom have been charged with serious offences. It described these actions as attempts to criminalise labour organising and silence dissent.

Highlighting structural issues in the labour market, NAPM referred to findings from the Periodic Labour Force Survey 2025, noting that only 23.6 percent of the workforce is in regular salaried employment, with the majority engaged in informal or precarious work. Even among salaried workers, over half reportedly earn less than ₹15,000 per month, and a significant proportion lack formal job contracts. The rise of gig and casual employment has further intensified insecurity, with longer working hours and limited social protections.

A key point of contention remains the implementation of the four labour codes notified by the Union government in November 2025, which consolidate 29 existing labour laws. NAPM argued that these reforms weaken safeguards by restricting the right to strike, enabling hire-and-fire practices and potentially extending working hours beyond the established eight-hour norm. It also pointed to rising living costs, including increases in LPG prices, as exacerbating financial stress among workers and contributing to reverse migration trends.

The statement drew attention to workplace safety concerns, referencing recent industrial accidents. It cited an explosion at a Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh in April 2026 that reportedly killed 21 workers and injured many others, as well as a previous incident at the Sigachi factory in Telangana in July 2025 that left 54 workers dead. In both cases, NAPM alleged inadequate compensation and accountability, particularly affecting migrant workers from economically weaker states.

Despite repeated nationwide protests, including a large-scale general strike on February 16, 2026, the organisation claimed that worker demands have not been adequately addressed. It also criticised the absence of the Indian Labour Conference for over a decade, calling it a missed institutional platform for dialogue between workers, employers and the government. Referring to the International Trade Union Confederation Global Rights Index, NAPM noted that India has been categorised among countries with limited guarantees of workers’ rights.

Framing the current unrest as a manifestation of deeper socio-economic distress, NAPM argued that widening gaps between wages and living costs, coupled with inadequate enforcement of existing labour protections, have left workers with little option but to organise and protest. It criticised what it described as the increasing criminalisation of labour disputes, including the appointment of police officials rather than labour authorities to handle industrial conflicts in some states.

The organisation has called for a series of measures, including the release of detained workers and activists, implementation of fair wages, enforcement of an eight-hour workday, payment of overtime, improved workplace safety, rollback of diluted labour protections and safeguarding of the constitutional right to unionise and protest. It urged both the Union and state governments to engage in meaningful dialogue and uphold constitutional obligations, warning that the erosion of labour rights poses a broader threat to democratic principles.

Issued from its national office in Mumbai, NAPM’s statement reiterates its longstanding position that the dignity and rights of workers are central to India’s social and economic stability, and that addressing the current crisis requires systemic reforms rather than coercive responses.