NEW DELHI | In a significant escalation of the standoff between the working class and the establishment, ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and several independent sectoral federations have issued a scathing rebuttal to recent remarks made by the Supreme Court of India. The joint platform of unions has termed the judiciary’s observations—which attributed industrial stagnation to “aggressive trade unionism”—as a direct assault on constitutional values and the dignity of labor.
”Class Bias in Judicial Reasoning”
The controversy erupted following a hearing on January 29, 2026, where a Supreme Court bench made critical observations regarding trade union activities while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Rejecting these claims, the joint platform, representing organizations like INTUC, AITUC, HMS, and CITU, stated that industrial losses are rarely caused by workers’ protests.
”These comments are factually incorrect and deeply unjust. It is a well-documented reality that the loss of man-days in India is primarily a result of corporate mismanagement and financial irregularities, not labor movements,” the unions stated in a joint press release. The leadership further argued that such remarks reflect a “class bias” that undermines the constitutional vision of a welfare state.
The Plight of Domestic Workers
A major point of contention remains the court’s refusal to entertain the demand for minimum wages for domestic workers. The unions pointed out that domestic workers, the majority of whom are women, form the backbone of the care economy but continue to suffer from wage theft and lack of legal protection.
”Denying minimum wage to domestic workers is equivalent to ‘forced labor’ under Article 23 of the Constitution,” the unions asserted. They reminded the judiciary that as a founding member of the ILO, India is morally and legally bound to recognize domestic work as formal employment under Convention 189.
Resistance Against ‘Corporate-Driven’ Policies
The unions have linked the current judicial stance to the government’s broader economic agenda. They allege that the push for the Four Labour Codes, the aggressive privatization of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025 are all part of a “policy-driven neoliberalism” designed to favor big corporations at the expense of the poor.
The press release highlighted that these policies have led to:
- Erosion of Workers’ Rights: The replacement of protective labor laws with pro-employer codes.
- Economic Insecurity: A lack of social security for the informal workforce.
- Agrarian Crisis: Policies like the Seed Bill that threaten the livelihoods of both farmers and laborers.
Nationwide Strike on February 12
To protest against these “anti-worker” judicial remarks and the government’s neoliberal policies, the trade unions have confirmed a Nationwide General Strike on February 12, 2026. This mobilization is expected to see a massive turnout of workers and farmers, signaling a unified front against the current economic trajectory.
The joint platform concluded by demanding that the Supreme Court withdraw its “reckless remarks” against trade unionism and adopt a constitutional lens that upholds social justice for the country’s vast informal workforce.
Signatory Organizations:
The statement was jointly issued by INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC, and various independent sectoral federations.
