On the occasion of International Labour Day and the birth anniversary of Madhu Limaye, Youth Socialist Initiative (YSI) organized a discussion on May 1, 2026, at the seminar room of Rajendra Bhawan, Delhi, on the topic: Challenges facing the Labour movement in the era of corporate capitalism.
(Asian independent) The discussion was initiated by Ritu Kaushik, Secretary, All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (All India Women’s Cultural Organization). She stated that in India, those in power have undermined the very baseline of workers’ rights by disregarding the minimum wage standards established for an eight-hour work-day. In such a scenario, it becomes futile to even speak of essential provisions such as adequate workplace amenities, safety, and guarantee of human dignity. Political parties are sustained by funding provided by corporate houses. Consequently, they operate on a policy of ‘maximum exploitation of workers and maximum profit for corporate houses.’ The nexus between political power and corporate capital has unleashed an unbridled plunder of workers’ labour and national resources.
It is the responsibility of the labour movement to dismantle this nexus. Ritu Kaushik also emphasized that the issues facing women workers are not distinct; women’s issues must be viewed in their holistic context. On this occasion, she paid tribute to the sustained struggle waged by the socialist leader Madhu Limaye against capitalist and communal forces.
Continuing the discussion, veteran labour leader Comrade Narendra linked the current plight of workers to the New Economic Policies implemented in 1991. He observed that India’s trade unions and leaders failed to grasp the nature of this new phase of capitalist exploitation. They were unable to comprehend – let alone explain to the workers – the new landscape of the means and relations of production. Consequently, they have proven incapable of effectively countering the corporate-political nexus characteristic of the digital age. He suggested that the contemporary labour movement must adopt new knowledge and strategies to navigate these new circumstances.
Advocate Arun Maji, President, Delhi chapter of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), cited the Dunkel Draft – issued in 1991 in connection with the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and signed by the Government of India in April 1994 – to explain that, in its aftermath, the global modes and relations of production underwent a transformation. Large corporations emerged as the proprietors of the world’s labour and resources. The ranks of organized-sector workers employed in public sector enterprises and limited companies witnessed a steady decline. Consequently, privatization led to a massive fragmentation of the workforce. Organizing this fragmented workforce stands as the greatest challenge confronting the labour movement today.
He noted that Madhu Limaye was not only a distinguished parliamentarian but also a strong labour leader. Indian politics has since been bereft of leaders of such stature. Merely reminiscing about his ideas and struggle is insufficient; rather, there is a need to draw inspiration from him in order to comprehend the challenges currently confronting the labour movement in the country.
Eminent farmer leader Dr. Sunilam expressed strong objection to the arrests of workers and their supporters following the recent labour protests in Noida (UP) and Manesar (Gurugram, Haryana). He stated that had major trade unions and opposition political parties immediately stepped forward to support and defend the workers, the indiscriminate FIRs filed by the police could have been quashed, and the arrests of the workers could have been prevented. He anguished, “We have failed the workers.”
Recalling Madhu Limaye, he highlighted the pivotal role the latter played in both the socialist and labour movements. Citing Limaye’s final book, ‘Communist-Socialist Interaction, he asserted that the onslaught of corporate capitalism in India can only be countered by forging unity between Communists and Socialists.
Senior Gandhian thinker Ramesh Sharma advised utilizing the products of cottage industries as a means to counter high technology and its associated market forces. Labour leader Ashok Tak and veteran socialist leader Purushottam described the plight of sewer workers, emphasizing the urgent need for an immediate resolution to their problems. Y.S. Gill, a keen observer of labour issues, characterized the current phase of capitalism as ‘digital imperialism’ and underscored the necessity of devising new strategies to combat it. Bhaskar observed that the transformed nature of capital has, to a significant extent, altered our moral and ethical sensibilities.
Young journalist Rajesh Kumar stated that the country’s entire media is, to a greater or lesser extent, part of the corporate network. Social media, too, cannot be considered exempt from this very corporate network. In such a scenario, only those citizens who possess an independent constitutional perspective – one that offers an alternative to liberalization, privatization, and globalization – can resolve this crisis.
The discussion was presided over by Dr. Prem Singh. In his presidential address, he challenged economists to explain the extent to which the accumulation of private corporate capital in India – which is currently being so widely extolled – is actually attributable to the exploitation of cheap labour, and the looting of the nation’s resources and public exchequer. He further demanded an explanation as to who granted the license for this exploitation of cheap labour and the plundering of resources and public funds. He noted that while progressive economists do indeed critique the anti-labour conditions engendered by corporate capitalism, they often fail to clearly elucidate the underlying mechanics of how corporate capitalism established itself and continues to operate unchecked. For the illusion that ‘capitalism constitutes a revolutionary phase in the evolution of human civilization’ has yet to dissipate!
He stated that, in the era of corporate capitalism – marked by the erosion of labour rights as well as the escalating exploitation and oppression of workers – there is an urgent need for the emergence of a new labour consciousness to provide an effective and lasting solution. The COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant opportunity for the awakening of this new labour consciousness; however, no initiative was undertaken in that direction.
Indeed, this task cannot be accomplished by the political parties of the current era or their leadership. Nor can it be undertaken by civil society activists who run NGOs funded by domestic or foreign money. Furthermore, individual activists – who accept lucrative foreign awards in exchange for their speeches or writings on public interest issues – cannot play a meaningful role in this endeavour either.
It is the established, transformative trade unions within the country – both large and small – that alone possess the capacity to cultivate this new labour consciousness through the medium of workers’ education. To this end, labour unions must reorganize themselves from the ground up and move forward with ideological clarity – even if it necessitates severing their ties with political parties. By standing firmly upon the national and international legacy of labour struggles, they can emerge as the catalysts for the awakening of a new labour consciousness amidst these new circumstances. This is a task for trade unions aimed at achieving long-term objectives. However, they must simultaneously accelerate their efforts to attain immediate goals in interest of workers. This entails ensuring guarantees of wages, benefits, security, and dignity to enable a decent livelihood for all categories of workers, including their families.
Needless to say, social education will proceed in tandem with this workers’ education. This process has the potential to foster a form of political education that could serve as a robust foundation for an alternative politics vis-a-vi corporate politics.
On this occasion, copies of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s 1936 note titled ‘Shramik-Shikshan’ (Workers’ Education) were distributed.
The program was moderated by Dr. Hiranya Himkar, while Dr. Akashdeep delivered the vote of thanks at the conclusion of the discussion.
Prepared by Rajesh Kumar
