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30 July, 2026Trade unions and farmers' organizations from across India reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening joint action at a national convention held in New Delhi on 29 July. The convention was jointly organized by India's Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). It adopted a declaration committing to closer coordination on issues affecting workers, farmers, and rural communities. Additionally, the declaration outlined a strategy for future collective action.
Trade unions and farmers’ organizations from across India reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening joint action at a national convention held in New Delhi on 29 July. The convention was jointly organized by India’s Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). It adopted a declaration committing to closer coordination on issues affecting workers, farmers, and rural communities. Additionally, the declaration outlined a strategy for future collective action.
The convention reflected the growing cooperation between the trade union and farmers’ movements since their first joint convention in 2023. It emphasized that the challenges are increasingly interconnected.
Speakers highlighted that workers and farmers share not only common struggles but common roots and play an essential role in nation building. They emphasized that organized collective action remains the most effective way to achieve lasting change.
They also underlined the importance of addressing youth unemployment. In addition, they recognized the contribution of women workers. They stressed the need to ensure that technological advances, including AI, reduce human hardship as opposed to human rights.
Many welcomed the growing participation of young people in democratic movements and stressed the importance of building solidarity across generations to advance common demands.
The declaration adopted by the convention sets out a broad range of demands, including stronger labour protections, expanded social security, decent wages and employment creation. Furthermore, it calls on India to ratify ILO Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining. It also asks for ratification of Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work. In addition, it supports Convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers, underscoring the continued importance of international labour standards in advancing decent work.
Looking ahead, the organizations announced nationwide decentralized protests on 10 August to commemorate the colonial era Quit India movement. They also pledged continued solidarity with each other’s campaigns and preparations for broader joint actions should their demands remain unaddressed.
Kemal Özkan, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL added:
“ILO’s fundamental principles recognize that sustainable economic progress depends on respect for workers’ rights. Social dialogue and collective bargaining are not obstacles to development; they are among its strongest foundations.”
Ashutosh Bhattacharya, regional secretary of IndustriALL South Asia reflected:
“This convention proves that the commitment to sustained solidarity will remain essential in advancing policies that place people at the centre of economic development.”