Labour Unrest Signals Deep Industrial Relations Crisis

Labour Unrest Signals Deep Industrial Relations Crisis
The country faces mounting labour unrest stemming from deteriorating working conditions and stagnant wages. Real earnings in 2022-23 remain significantly below 2011-12 levels, indicating more than a decade of wage stagnation that has eroded worker purchasing power. This wage decline directly impacts household consumption patterns, which represents a substantial portion of economic activity. Contract workers face particularly severe challenges, often lacking access to basic labour protections including health insurance, pension benefits, and job security measures. This creates a two-tier workforce system where temporary employees shoulder disproportionate risks while contributing to economic output. Such conditions breed workplace discontent and frequent strikes across manufacturing and service sectors.