EVERY year on 1 May, people across the globe, including our very own country celebrate Labour Day as a public holiday. But has any one of us done something of value for the labour class or tried to resolve their problems? There are numerous problems which are being faced by our labourers every day such as poverty, illiteracy, food and water crisis. A vast majority of them, including daily-wage earners remain outside the field of labour laws, which means that they have no paid holidays, no job security, no medical coverage, no pension, no provident fund, and no limit on working hours.
In India, there is also an issue of child labour, which is a complex problem with its roots in the socio-economic environment of the country. Child labour not only deprives children of their fundamental right to education, but also jeopardizes their physical and mental well-being. It perpetuates a cycle of poverty and denies these young minds the chance to reach their full potential.
Although India has laws prohibiting child labour, the practice continues unabated throughout much of the country. This is a major problem for us because children who are compelled to work are unable to attain an education, driving illiteracy and many other social problems. Every child has a fundamental right to an education and the government is bound to provide education to all children and end the practice of child labour. India is in dire need of educated children, not child workers.
There should be strict action against people who use child labour and bonded labour. Labourers are the most important and valuable members of our society. They work tirelessly in the agricultural and industrial sectors, beside other fields, and make great contributions towards the development of the country.
May 1 is celebrated as ‘International Labour Day’ every year. Although the world has progressed quite a lot and bravely fought against the nuisance of forced labour, there are still cases where labourers are exploited and are not treated with dignity and respect. The International Labour Day should not only be spent in remembering the past events, but there must also be a plan to help labourers fight for their basic rights.
It is unfortunately quite common in India and elsewhere in the world that labourers are paid below the minimum wages (or their contracts are drafted in such a manner that they end up accepting strict working conditions with nominal pay). Their salaries are insufficient, and they can barely meet the basic needs of their families. It is our responsibility to raise a voice for them and ensure that they are paid decent wages, keeping in view the current rate of inflation.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Mumbai, India
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