The document discusses workers' movements in India. It defines who is considered a worker and provides a brief history of the emergence of an industrial labor force in South Asia in the 19th century. It then outlines the main sectors of employment in India including organized/unorganized and primary/secondary/tertiary. The key problems faced by workers are discussed such as poor working conditions, discrimination, lack of job security. Major demands of workers' movements are for better wages, safety, social security, maternity benefits and an end to exploitation. The document concludes by highlighting voices for change such as protests by Anganwadi workers seeking better recognition and benefits.

1. WORKERS MOVEMENT

2. INTRODUCTION
• Who do we categorise as workers?
People work for earning their livelihood. A person who is involved in
production activity contributing to the flow of goods and services in the
economy is called a worker. In other words, a worker is regarded as an
economic agent who contributes to the production of goods and services,
thereby, to the GDP during a particular year. A worker renders services to
others and receives rewards in the form of wages, salaries or in kind.
Hence, we can say that when an individual is engaged in a production
activity or self employed and contributes to the generation of GDP, then,
that person is referred to as a worker. For example, a doctor, an engineer
working in a factory, etc.

3. HISTORY OF LABOUR FORCE
• An industrial labor force emerged in South Asia, mostly in current India, in the second half of the
19th century, and continued to expand in the 20th century.
• New export-oriented industries created employment for many workers, many of them migrants from
often remote rural areas, and mostly men. Despite this growth, the labor force structure did not
“transform”. Industry never employed more than 10 per cent of the labor force, and only a
proportion of that was employed in large-scale enterprise.
• Rates of urbanization remained moderate. Agriculture continued to employ three-quarters of
workers, and many industrial workers kept a foothold in the agrarian economy.

4. TYPES OF SECTORS
Organised sector
• It is a sector where the employment terms are
fixed and regular, and the employees get assured
work. The job is regular and has fixed working
hours. If people work more, they get paid for the
overtime by the employer. Workers enjoy the
security of employment.
• Government employees, Government schools
and colleges, Registered industrial workers,
Banks are a few examples.
Unorganised sector
• The unorganized sector is characterized by
small and scattered units, which are largely
outside the control of the government. Jobs
are low-paid and often not regular.
Employment is not secure. People can be
asked to leave without any reason.
• Examples: Shopkeeping, Farming, Domestic
works, etc.

5. TYPES OF SECTORS
Tertiary Sector
This sector contributes the largest in
terms of share in GDP in India. The
sector is also the service sector and is
important when you consider the
development of the other two
sectors. Like the previous sector, this
sector also adds the value to the
products. This sector is responsible
for employing 23 percentage of the
workforce out of the total workforce
currently working in India.
Secondary Sector
This sector is dependent on the
natural ingredients which are used
to create the services and
products offered and which at the
end are used for consumption. In
terms of value added to the
products and services, this sector
is the best sector. The major
examples that fall under this
category are transportation and
manufacturing.
Primary Sector
This is the sector which is largely
dependent on the availability of
natural resources in order to
manufacture the goods and also to
execute various processes. The best
example to discuss in this sector is
the agriculture sector. The other
examples in this sector include
fishing and forestry, but agriculture
accounts for the largest in this
sector.

6. Problems and Demands
Workers movement

7. Better working conditions
• Workers have always been exploited in terms of no provision for basic rights such as fixed
or limited hours of working , social security schemes ,pensions, minimum leaves and
moreover female workers were asked for personal favors which leads to workplace
harassment.
• Poor working conditions where workers are subjected to dangerous working environments
where they are risked to injury and even death . For example, mine workers have to work
in inhumane conditions which even leads to their death .
• Workers in time of need sometimes takes loan from their master and this leads to further
financial burden as when they are not able to pay the loan on time they are not only
exploited but also forced to work under poor conditions because of the debt and their
wages are also delayed.

8. Discrimination
• Discrimination on workplace is a major problem . It can be on basis of colour , caste ,
gender, race , religion etc . However, Discrimination on the basis of gender is majorly
seen. Women workers are not paid equally to male workers . They are even not provided
with maternity leaves and further benefits.
• Also , favorism is a major problem . Sometimes employees who have connections and
are related to higher authorities in some or the other way are given priority over other
eligible and hardworking aspirants .
• In informal sector, workers have no job security and can be replaced any moment so they
work for low wages and are always in fear of losing their jobs. They even can’t oppose
this due to availability of large labour workforce as their replacement is easy.

9. Demands of workers movements
• Workers movements which takes place from time to time are always
against the exploitation they face and for their rights such as availability of
clean drinking water , low wages, safe and secure environments , social
security schemes , provision for pension , provident fund , limited working
hours , training of workers to work in difficult environments , provision of
maternity leaves for female workers etc .
• To raise voice against such exploitation and Discrimination various
workers movements have took place and have bought a change in society.

19. Voices For Change
Anganwadi Protests Shaping The Future

20. Who are Anganwadi Workers?
• The government of India started in 1975 an Integrated Child Development Services under
which the Anganwadi (rural child care centre) centres were established.
• Since it’s inception, these centres have become an integral part of the Indian healthcare
system and has helped to combat issues like malnutrition, child hunger, maternity
help, contraceptive education, pre school activities, immunization, health education
and many more.
• By involving only women in the workforce, the initiative believes in promoting gender
equality and empowering women to become agents of change in their communities. It
helps them to become self dependent and to contribute in their family’s growth.

21. Where is the problem, then?
• The protests by Anganwadi workers have been ongoing for several years, with different
instances of protests taking place at different times in various regions.
• Problems- Low and delayed wages, unfair working hours, lack of social security
benefits, inadequate infrastructure and resources, lack of skill development and
training, and most importantly lack of social recognition and respect.
• Several other reasons make the Anganwadi workers’ movement rather
unique. The most distinctive challenge of this ‘all-women’ workforce,
spread across the country, is the need to be recognized as ‘workers’, not as
“volunteers”. They are offered an ‘honorarium’ working as a volunteer
which is not a decent return for the functions they carry out.

22. Reforms For Consideration
• In order to maintain the efficiency of the workers, we need to recognise their
demands. Complaints regarding delayed and low wages, lack of appropriate
infrastructure and resources, non- availability of social security benefits
(insurance, pension etc) should be addressed.
• Considering them as “Workers” who also have certain expectations to earn and
sustain their families and not as mere “Volunteers” should be promoted.
• Early childhood development is not valued much, this notion should be changed.
Anganwadi workers and the whole system is an integral part of India’s Rural
Healthcare System. Loosing them can have an unbearable cost on the whole
country.

23. SEWA
SELF EMPLOYED WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

30. In many countries, there are legal restrictions or limitations on the
right to strike for certain essential service employees. This is often
based on the recognition that the impact of strikes in these sectors
can be severe and have far-reaching consequences.
It's important to note that the approach to the right to strike in
essential services varies between countries and is influenced by
their respective legal systems, labour relations practices, and
societal values. Ultimately, striking a balance between protecting
workers' rights and ensuring the functioning of essential services is
a challenging task for policymakers and requires careful
consideration of all relevant factors.

31. Essential Services Maintenance Act
ESMA is an act of Parliament of India which was established to ensure the delivery of certain services,
which if obstructed would affect the normal life of the people. This include services like public
transport (bus services), health services (doctors and hospitals). The ESMA is a law made by
the Parliament of India under List No. 33 in Concurrent List of 7th Schedule of Constitution of India.
Hence it maintains national uniformity by providing minimum conditions of essential services across
the nation. For any violations in specific regions, State governments alone or together with other state
government can enforce their respective act. Each state has a separate state Essential Services
Maintenance Act with slight variations from the central law in its provisions. Hence, in case the nature
of strike disrupts only a state or states, then the states can invoke it. In case of disruption on a national
scale, especially railways, the ESMA 1968 can be invoked by central government.

32. ESMA is imposed to prevent unnecessary strikes. If the employees of any important department indulge in the strike and the government rejects
their demands and urges them to end the strike, but employees don’t end their strike then the concerned government takes action against them
under ESMA provisions. Which Services are covered under the ESMA?
(i) Any service in any defence establishment of the Government of India;
(ii) any postal, telephone service or telegraph;
(iii) any railway service or any other transport service for the carriage of passengers or goods by air, land, or water with respect to which
Parliament has the power to make laws;
(iv) Any service connected with the movement or storage, loading & unloading of goods in any port,
(v) any service connected with the operation or maintenance of aerodromes, or with the repair or maintenance of aircraft and its operation;
(vi) any service in any mint or security press;
(vii) any service in connection with the affairs of the Union.
(viii) any service connected with the clearance of goods or passengers through the customs or with the prevention of smuggling.
Punishment under ESMA:
1. If the employee goes on strike after the implementation of ESMA, then it is illegal and punishable. After the enforcement of ESMA under the
Criminal Procedure 1898 (5 of 1898), any employee may be arrested by any police officer without a warrant.
2. This act also states that if overtime work is required to maintain any essential service, the employee cannot deny it.
3. Any person who incites other persons to participate in the strike shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of one year, or with fine
which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
4. Any person who deliberately gives financial support to a strike which is illegal under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to one- year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or both.

37. THANK YOU
By: NEHAL JAIN
SANVI KAPOOR
SHREEYA RATHORE
SAUMYA BHARDWAJ
ZOHA NASIR
SURBHI KUMARI
PRAGATI
RADHIKA AGARWAL
MANYA JAIN
RICHA SEEPAL
SALONI