By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi, Feb 25, 2025: A monthlong march of unorganized laborers in India has ended in the national capital demanding social protection, justice and dignity for their more than 500 million brethren.

The Shramik Samman Yatra (Journey for the dignity of labor) that began in Kanyakumari concluded on February 25 at Jantar Mantar, a popular venue for public protest, in the presence of hundreds of workers from all over the country.

Working People’s Coalition (WPC) leaders address the gathering
The yatra that covered 14 states was organized by the Working People’s Coalition (WPC), an independent, non-party network of diverse organizations supporting the cause of informal labour across India

Among them was the Montfort Social Institute that coordinates the Telangana State Domestic Workers Union and the Andhra Pradesh Domestic Workers Federation.

The January 24-February 25 yatra submitted a memorandum to the prime minister’s office and shared its copies to the concerned ministries. Their key demands included guarantee of the right to decent and gainful work with dignity in rural and urban areas.

It wants the government to acknowledge all categories of workers such as domestic workers, gig and platform workers, construction workers, home-based workers, waste pickers, street vendors, head loaders, sex and bar workers.

Others in the category are fishwokers, agricultural workers and those employed under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), social welfare measure that aims to guarantee the ‘right to work.

The march also wants the government to abolish the contract labor system in permanent work, ensure occupational safety, health standards and protection from injury, accidents and trauma at the workplace.

It wants the government to launch at least 5,000 rupees a month for each worker in the unorganized sector as “Sramik Samman Nidhi,” (labor dignity fund), starting with those registered on the e-shram portal under the federal Lobour Ministry for a National Database of Unorganized Workers.

Another demand is the extension of ESI (Employees State Insurance) and Employee Provident Fund to all formal and informal workers.

The WPC leaders from across India and trade union leaders addressed the gathering. They highlighted the demands from various sectors of the working class which forms the foundation of the traditional and platform economy, or the shift of commerce to digital platforms that allow users to connect, share, and sell.

One of them, Montfort Brother Varghese Theckanath, director of MSI in Hyderabad, spoke about the social protection of the workers and called for pension rights for all.

The WPC, with chapters in 14 states, is committed to organizing, developing policy suggestions, mobilizing legal and mediation support, and creating lasting change for India’s workers.