Now the Industrialists and the Governments have started feeling the pinch of shortage of Labour, it is the same Industrialists and the Governments who are responsible for driving away the workers to their villages without providing food or shelter. During the COVID-19 crisis period the biggest chunk of migrant workers who have returned to Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and UP are Construction Workers, Drivers, Tailors, Electricians, Carpenters, Cooks, Mechanics, Domestic Workers, Security Guards, Gas Stove Mechanic, AC Mechanic, Water Purifier Technicians, Mobile Phone Repairers, Factory Workers and so on. The Labour in our Country is never treated with dignity. The ongoing pandemic and the long march of the migrant workers resulting in sudden shortage of Labour in the Industrialist States is a message about how the Labour force is treated in our Country. The Tamil Nadu CM told the Industrialists that to overcome the shortage of Migrant workers they should utilize the workers of Tamil Nadu to avoid any slackness in Industrial productivity.

Let us analyze in this Article what does the ILO Convention, Indian Constitution, Labour Laws etc. speaks about the dignity of Labour. The UN's Declaration of Universal Human Rights that has been instrumental for peace post – World War-II, or the Constitution of ILO and the Declaration of Philadelphia that have as their objectives social justice, equality of treatment between men and women workers, ensuring a living wage and the social security of workers. Globalized Economy, Liberalization and Privatization etc. undermined the approach towards the right to dignity at work. Bonded Labour and slavery have existed in India for century. According to Article 23 of the Indian Constitution, all forms of forced labour are prohibited. However it was only in 1976. The Indian Parliament passed the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, the fact remains that even today there are corers of workers who are trapped in the form of debt bondage.

The Constitution of our Country safeguards in the form of fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 14, 15, 16, 19 (i) g, 21, 23 and 24 contribute the very basis of all Judicial interpretations in the history of litigations against any forced Labour.

While Article 23 of the Constitution which translated ILO Convention 29 and 105 into the Act of 1976, India has also ratified the ILO Convention 111 – Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention of 1958. However, even today caste and gender discrimination still exists in many ways at the workplace. Article 39 of the Constitution requires the states to “in particular direct its policy towards security of the health and strength of workers, men and women and the tender age of children are not abused and that citizens are not forced through by economic necessity to enter avocation unsuited to their age or strength.”

The term of “Labour” accords a deep sense of dignity to the workers. However the workers are always treated like a cheap commodity, they are not valued as one of the important resources for development of the economy and wealth. There are Constitutional protections to the Labours, there are many Labour Laws for the under privileged to seek justice. However the lack of political will and the rulers commitment and soft corner towards the capitalists and Corporates prohibits to protect the dignity of Labour. The Contract Workers and the Labourers in unorganized sectors are prohibited to join the Union. This reduces the bargaining power of the Labour. The workers are having no say in the decision making process of the Industry. Even in the organized Sectors the “Dignity of Labour” is missing. A worker e.g. Turner, Machinist, Welder, Fitter, Electrician, Tailor, Sweeper etc. are always treated with degrading and in undignified manner, whereas the Superiors and Managers enjoy “dignity”. A Superior in any Industry even in Government Office will refuse to take job of his subordinate since he feel that it is below his dignity at their work place.

Now the time has come for entire Country to introspect over the “Dignity of Labour” which has been crushed under the market driven Neo Liberal Economic Policies. Henceforth the Labour cannot be treated in an undignified manner which we have observed during the entire Lockdown period. All of a sudden the Labour who creates all the wealth became a burden, untouchable, unwanted and orphan. They were driven away without even paying their due wages and took away their rights to stay alive.

The Government wanted to rebuild the economy. The Industrialist wanted to quickly start the operation of their Industry, but where is the Labour? Now they are making a big hue and cry to the Government “Give us Labour”. The Country has to ensure the dignity of the Labour. It is not a fight of the Worker alone. It is a fight of the civilized society. The Country should not succumb to the pressure and dictate of the corporate honchos. (IPA Service)