May Day is more relevant in India today than before. Here’s why

May Day celebrates the working class of the world and the historic struggles from the past that ensured workers obtained their rights.
May Day is more relevant in India today than before. Here’s why
May Day is more relevant in India today than before. Here’s why
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“At a time when attempts are being made to divide the working class of the country, it is essential that the people organise and carefully resist these attempts,” stated Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala, the only state in India ruled by a Communist government.

This statement was made by Pinarayi Vijayan on the occasion of May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, which celebrates the working class of the world and the historic struggles from the past that ensured that workers obtained their rights such as the eight-hour work shifts.

At a time when unemployment rates are increasing in the country, when farmers and the working class are angry, resorting to protests and marches, there is a growing need to discuss the relevance of May Day.

“The International Workers' Day is as relevant today as it was during the time of the late 19th century movements to which its origins are traced,” observes Subin Dennis, an Economist and Researcher at the Tricontinental Institute of Social Research.

Subin says that in many countries across the world, even the basic right of an eight-hour working day, which was the original demand of these struggles, is being violated with impunity. “India is among the countries of the world where the working and living conditions of the working people are the worst. The vast majority of people work in the so-called informal sector with very little rights. The right to unionise is frequently denied and unsurprisingly, most workers in India are not unionised.”

Anathalavattom Anandan, the Kerala State President of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) alleges that the government of India, along with the support of corporate companies is trying to take away the rights of the workers that were won by them through years of struggle. Anandan points out that even as India is economically developing, the unemployment rate in the country is rising.


May Day rally by CITU workers in Thiruvananthapuram.

“The country witnessed high unemployment rate under the Modi government but the Prime Minister is saying that there has been huge economic growth in the country. This so-called economic growth is only experienced by a certain section of the Indian population - mainly the rich corporate bosses,” states Anandan. The CITU leader argues that at the moment, the rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming poorer.

Anandan goes on to allege, “In the name of technological advancement, these companies are firing their staff and replacing them with machines. As it is, there are crores of unemployed people in the country and every year, another crore of qualified individuals above the age of 18 is joining this category of unemployed people. There is no generation of jobs happening in this country.” He says that most of the business owners are looking at maximising profits by cutting down on human resources. “This is a dangerous situation for the working class.”

Like Anandan, R Ramakumar, Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, says that expanded capitalist development across the world, accelerated by neo-liberal policies has led to an onslaught on labour. “The quantum of employment generation is falling every year, real wages are stagnating and the most affected section in this regard are the women and children, who are seen as a cheap source of labour power in the production process,” he points out.

Echoing Pinarayi’s views, Subin states, “May Day reminds us that the only way forward for the working class to make advances is to get organised, get politically educated to understand the system which subjugates them, and to agitate both for their immediate demands and to transcend the system itself.” He says that the system of unbridled profiteering has led not just to miserable living conditions for the vast majority of people, but also to an ecological crisis on a planetary scale.

“Only a working class-led movement which can think beyond this system can save the earth from catastrophe,” he further adds.

Anandan believes that on the occasion of International Workers Day, the working class population should take a pledge to protect their rights, to stand with the unemployed youth of the country and to ensure that they are also provided employment. He alleges, “The ruling government is trying to divide the working class of the country and destroy their organised movement in the name of religion, superstitions and beliefs and at the same time, help the corporates to grow more powerful. This is why I feel that occasions such as the May Day will act as a reminder of the struggles from the past and unite the workers.”

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