The G-20’s screen over ‘mazdoors’, their rights

Source: The post is based on the article “The G-20’s screen over ‘mazdoors’, their rights” published in “The Hindu” on 28th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- International relation- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

News: The author expresses concern that during the G-20 Summit, India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prioritized political and diplomatic victories. However, the author feels that India missed the opportunity to address significant worker rights issues and the exploitation and forced labor conditions faced by millions of Indian workers, both domestically and in the Arab Gulf. This, in the author’s view, resulted in a neglect of discussions on essential workers’ welfare and rights.

Was the G-20 Summit a missed opportunity for worker rights?

Neglected Worker Rights Issues: Major worker rights and welfare concerns, especially pertaining to Indian workers in India and the Arab Gulf, were largely unaddressed.

Politicization of L20: The selection of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) over the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) for leading the L20 meetings resulted in the sidelining of critical worker concerns and a boycott by ITUC.

Forced Labour and Exploitation: There was no discussion on the prevalent forced labour and modern-day slavery affecting millions in India, with the Walk Free Foundation reporting 11 million trapped in such conditions in India alone.

Missed Discussions on Core Worker Issues: The Summit did not focus on essential worker rights and welfare topics like job creation, living wages, and decent working conditions, missing a chance to make impactful changes in workers’ lives.

How serious is the problem of forced labor and exploitation?

Problem in India:

Modern-Day Slavery: India has 11 million people, as reported by the Walk Free Foundation, in conditions resembling modern-day slavery.

Vulnerable Sectors: Workers in industries like textiles, brick kilns, shrimp farming, copper manufacturing, stone cutting, and plantations are particularly susceptible to forced labor and exploitation.

Informal Sector: Out of 530 million workers in India, 430 million are in the informal sector and are prone to different forms of exploitation.

Global Problem:

Exploitation in the Arab Gulf: Approximately nine million Indian workers are facing exploitative working conditions in the Arab Gulf under the kafala system.

Impacted Nations: Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates have been particularly highlighted, hosting millions of Indian workers under severe conditions.

Concern for G-20 Countries: The article emphasizes that such exploitative practices and the neglect of worker rights and welfare are global issues, affecting not just India but all G-20 nations, and hampering the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

What are forced laborers?

Definition: Forced labor refers to work taken from a person under threat, without their voluntary consent.

Indicators: Situations like withholding wages, confiscating identity documents, or using threats and intimidation indicate forced labor.

Examples in India: Workers in Andhra Pradesh’s shrimp industry faced situations like unpaid overtime under threat, loan-based work obligations, and withholding of identity documents such as Aadhaar cards.

Impact: Such conditions result in workers being trapped, often facing physical, mental, or sexual threats, and working under inhumane conditions.