r/IndianWorkers

Sanitation workers in Faridabad have been on strike since May 1, 2026. The harsh reality of the work performed by these sanitation workers—who hail from the Dalit and Valmiki communities—is that they are frequently compelled to put their lives at risk. Meanwhile, Fire Brigade personnel have also been staging a strike for over a month.

The employees' struggle encompasses everything from cleaning sewers to saving lives amidst fires and accidents. However, the critical question remains: if they lose their lives or sustain injuries while on duty, does the government assume responsibility for their families? The employees allege that they receive neither adequate safety measures nor permanent employment, and are denied compensation as well.

Ultimately, why is the BJP government choosing to ignore the demands of its very own employees?

Watch full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K9qGJduRE8

source: https://scroll.in/article/1092960/how-big-tech-is-harnessing-the-data-of-indian-factory-workers-to-train-robots

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/gurgaon-court-grants-bail-manesar-union-leader-ajit-singh-illegal-custody-10696162/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQjRUrZth-M

India used to buy cheap crude oil from Iran, with free shipping, insurance and 60 days of credit. Then, Trump ordered Modi to stop buying oil from Iran.

> In May 2019, India was forced to stop buying oil from Iran after Trump disallowed a waiver. Trump’s former national security advisor, John Bolton, wrote in his book, The Room Where It Happened, that Trump dismissed Modi’s concerns, telling his team that ‘he’ll be okay’, with the decision.

> What this meant was a denial to India of oil that had come with concessions such as free transport and insurance and 60 days of credit. India tried to explain that many of its refineries had been calibrated to process Irani crude and couldn’t suddenly shift, and also that the stopping of supply from Iran would affect prices and inflation. However, this went unheeded and Trump bent Modi to his will, possibly with the promise of a visit or joint press conference.

Price of the Modi Years, Aakar Patel

Dear Mr CJI,

Excuse me for ignoring your feudal honorifics. Yesterday, we read your remarks, calling young people as cockroaches and parasites, and your vicious bile against journalists, RTI activists, and social media users. Perhaps, you have become used to running your motormouth and hurling threats and abuses, while sitting in a constitutional office. Still, it is no less shocking for any ordinary Indian citizen, whose rights you’re supposed to be protecting.

Only days ago, you vilified environmental activists, while sitting as a judge in the highest court. A few months ago, you made similar remarks against trade unions.

On several occasions, you made threats against the citizens of India. A year ago, in the Ali Mahmudabad case, you issued threats against students and professors for speaking up against the persecution of Professor Ali Mahmudabad, saying “if they dare to do anything, we will pass an order… we know how to deal with these people”.

In the India Got Latent case, you had made similar threats against people defending the constitutional right to expression, saying “we know some people writing articles in the name of freedom of speech, etc… we know how to handle them also”.

As the Chief Justice of India, instead of defending the rights of the citizens, you have repeatedly attacked, abused, and threatened the common people. “My Lord”, perhaps, you have developed the impression that this is still the feudal age and our rights are a grace from “Your Honour”.

You would do well to remember that it were the same people — the activists, the youths, and the unions — whom you’re threatening while sitting in your office, who fought and won these rights which you’re attacking and the Constitution you are supposed to serve. To serve, not to rule. You would also do well to keep in mind that these people will not let any thug, sitting in the constitutional office, threaten them or strip them off their hard-won rights.

Mr CJI, it is evident that you’re unfit for the office you’re holding and the duties towards the citizens you’re supposed to fulfil. I would still urge you, if you feel any shame, kindly do resign from your post. We are not intimidated by you.

Rishi Anand
A Citizen of India

On the morning of 13 April, workers across sectors launched a protest demanding better working conditions and a hike in wages in Noida, in Uttar Pradesh. The protest followed recent workers' strikes in Haryana, which compelled the state government to announce a 21% increase in the minimum wage. The Uttar Pradesh Police lathicharged workers, harassed women and verbally abused people at the Noida protests.

The police also detained several hundred workers and children. Activists have alleged that more than one thousand workers and other people have gone missing in Noida since the protests. The whereabouts of some were traced to the district jail, while those of several others remain unknown. The Caravan spoke to some of the families of those who went missing during the police action.

The police has confirmed the arrests of 396 persons, including four women. They have also filed seven First Information Reports on the protests, charging individual workers and over four thousand unidentified persons of attempt to murder, attacking public officials, rioting, destruction of public and private property, criminal intimidation, provoking breach of peace and other serious acts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLMwmYRUFZ4

In India’s unincorporated non-agricultural sector, average daily earnings are even below the minimum-wage benchmark for unskilled non-agricultural work in smaller towns and non-metro areas, reported Business Standard, upon analysing data from latest Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE).

This gap further widens when it is compared with wage categories for semi-skilled and skilled workers, with the data also revealing the continued dominance of own-account enterprises.

The Business Standard report added that average daily earning was Rs 391 in manufacturing, Rs 401 in trade and Rs 420 in other services, with all these figures being below the minimum-wage benchmark of Rs 477 per day for unskilled non-agricultural work. Semi-skilled and skilled minimum-wage categories were higher.

While the number of establishments increased from 59.7 million in 2022 to 79.2 million in 2025, the own-account enterprises, which are businesses run without regularly hired workers, accounted for 86% of all establishments, reported Business Standard.

These businesses are usually run by self-employed individuals or family members.

The Wire had previously reported, based on the findings of ASUSE for 2021-22 and 2022-23 that India’s 65 million informal or unincorporated sector enterprises employed 110 million workers in 2022-23.

These enterprises cumulatively created a gross value added (GVA) worth 15.4 lakh crore, with the GVA and employment share of the informal sector outside of agriculture, therefore, accounting for 6% and 19% respectively.

Considering 45% employment and 18% income share of agriculture in overall GVA, it becomes clear that two-thirds of workers account for just one-fourth of India’s GVA. These numbers indicate the deep-seated inequality in the Indian economy.

https://thewire.in/labour/average-daily-earnings-in-informal-non-agricultural-sector-below-minimum-wage-benchmark-report

Full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJfy7o3-BlY

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday invoked the draconian National Security Act (NSA) against two activists arrested in connection with the Noida workers’ protest violence, officials confirmed to the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

The NSA has been imposed on two Mazdoor Bigul activists, Akriti Choudhary and Satyam Verma.

“The parents of Akriti, the amateur theatre artist associated with the Progressive Artists’ League and Mazdoor Bigul, and a Delhi University M.A. graduate, who has been in detention for more than a month now, had received a call from the Gautam Budh Nagar UP Police informing them that the NSA had been invoked,” PUCL President Kavita Srivastava said.

There has been no information on whether other activists may face the same fate, Srivastava added. Civil society groups in Delhi have raised alarm over the new developments.

“After a month of illegal incarceration without a shred of evidence and custodial torture, the UP Police has now slapped the NSA (National Security Act) on two of the illegally arrested — Satyam, who has never been to Noida in the past 12 years, his comrades, and Akriti — and might very well invoke it against the rest of the activists too. This is a transparent attempt to keep them imprisoned without any evidence and to intimidate not only them but also anyone who raises their voice against injustice,” a statement issued by civil society groups read.

A protest has been called at Jantar Mantar in solidarity with the activists.

At a press conference held last month, civil society groups, including family members of the arrested activists, alleged that the UP Police was hounding members of civil society and creating fake links to the violence.

In April 2026, factory workers in Noida protested for higher wages, leading to clashes, vandalism, and more than 60 arrests, including labour activists and students accused of orchestrating the unrest. Activists have described the arrests as a “witch-hunt” aimed at criminalising legitimate labour dissent, while the police claim they are investigating a “conspiracy” involving social media mobilisation.

https://maktoobmedia.com/post?id=115463&slug=two-activists-arrested-in-noida-workers-protest-slapped-with-draconian-nsa