Shramik Samman Yatra Concludes With Workers Rally at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi, February 26, 2025 – Hundreds of informal workers from across India gathered at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to mark the culmination of the All India Shramik Samman Yatra, a nationwide movement organized by the Working People’s Coalition (WPC). The month-long yatra, which began on January 24, aimed to highlight the demands of India’s 55 crore informal workers, including fair wages, social protection, and dignified working conditions. The protest concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and concerned ministries.

The key demands presented in the memorandum include a Shramik Samman Nidhi—a monthly allowance of at least ₹5,000 for informal workers—starting with those registered on the e-Shram portal. The workers also called for a statutory minimum wage of ₹26,000 per month, pension rights, an extension of Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) to all workers, and an end to the contract labor system in permanent work.

The protest saw participation from diverse worker groups, including head loaders, waste pickers, street vendors, online gig workers, construction workers, factory workers, and domestic workers. Leaders and senior trade union representatives addressed the gathering, emphasizing the urgent need for legal protections and policy reforms for informal laborers, who constitute 90% of India’s workforce.

Voices from the Protest

Addressing the rally, Rajendra Sharma stressed the need for occupational safety standards, urging India to become a global leader in securing informal workers’ rights. Varghese from Hyderabad highlighted the necessity of comprehensive social protection and called for universal pension rights. Prakash Kumar advocated for Shramik Mandhan, demanding ₹5,000 per month for all informal workers and 200 days of employment security under MGNREGA.

H.S. Rawat urged the government to complete the survey of street vendors and ensure fair shop allocations in vending zones. Shaikh Akbar Ali from Delhi and Krishna from Bangalore emphasized the integration of waste pickers into formal waste management systems, recognizing their role in the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The protest also called for protection against forced evictions, the provision of affordable housing for workers, and stronger laws against workplace harassment and discrimination. Other critical demands included equal pay for equal work, maternity benefits, and legal recognition of all informal workers, including those engaged in marginalized professions.

The All India Shramik Samman Yatra united workers from different sectors and regions in a collective call for justice, security, and dignity. Summing up the event, Dharmendra Kumar urged the government to address the urgent concerns of informal workers, ensuring their rightful place in India’s economic and social framework.

With a growing network across 14 states, WPC remains committed to fighting for policy changes and legal protections that uphold the rights of India’s vast informal workforce.

By Steve Antao