Diverse trajectories of industrial restructuring and labour organising in India

Main author: Miyamura, Satoshi
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-22573
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description It is often claimed that industrial restructuring leads to diminished roles for trade unionism and other forms of labour organisations by informalising employment and relocating production. Drawing on selected case studies from long term fieldwork in regions of India, this article shows that trajectories of industrial restructuring and the responses by organised labour over the past two decades have been diverse. It is argued that the diverse response not only reflects structural opportunities and constraints for labour to be organised in particular ways, but also different histories and experiences of labour association. Contrary to the presumption about the general demise of trade unionism and the apparent unattainability of class solidarity in contemporary globalised capitalism, it is observed that India’s labour movement is experiencing a degree of resurgence, and new forms of labour organisations and activism are emerging, especially involving informal workers in the formal sector. That these innovative forms of mobilisation are shaped by experiences and aspirations that do not conform to the established institutionalised frameworks for dispute resolution has important policy and political implications.
format Journal Article
author Miyamura, Satoshi
author_facet Miyamura, Satoshi
authorStr Miyamura, Satoshi
author_letter Miyamura, Satoshi
title Diverse trajectories of industrial restructuring and labour organising in India
publisher Taylor and Francis
publishDate 2016
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/22573/