Unspoken Voices of Workers in India: Is Labour Day Just a Holiday or a Call for Fair Treatment?

Labour Day is not only an off day but also a moment to recognize and celebrate the sacrifices of workers, and fight for fair treatment, and better work conditions. It commemorates the struggles and successes of the workers' movement to achieve fair remuneration, a safe working environment, and labour rights. While most nations celebrate this day with festivals and public holidays, it also serves as a stage to bring awareness to pertinent issues at the workplace and fight for social justice. The International Labour Organization (ILO) usually gives Labour Day annual themes revolving around topical issues at the workplace. The origins of the day go back to the eight-hour workday battle of the labor movement that grew in intensity during the latter half of the 19th century, and more specifically with the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886, in which workers agitated for the right. Labour Day is observed on May 1st as a public holiday across most countries but also as a day of action and reflection. Following are the reasons for Labour Day being seen as just a holiday in India.

Continued Layoffs

The tech sector is seeing major layoffs in 2025, following the trend in 2024, with top firms such as Google, Infosys, Meta, and Microsoft having layoffs.  These companies are under fire for how they treated their employees, especially Infosys, which made news recently after laying off 350 employees in one go. The firm says these firings resulted from "mutual separation" following that employees had failed three internal tests after foundational training. But this is not according to NITES, which disagrees with the figure and estimates the number of impacted employees to be nearer 700. Likewise, Google has revealed it would be laying off members of its cloud and HR staff in order to "operate more efficiently" and simplify its structure, having already shed hundreds from its platforms and devices division so far this month. This movement creates apprehension regarding treatment in the workplace in India and dashes the dreams of employees aiming to have a career in the technology sector.

The Indian government is actively responding to the ongoing issue of layoffs, particularly in the tech sector, by intervening in cases of alleged unfair termination, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and protecting employee rights. However, there is no use as that creates apprehension regarding treatment in the workplace in India and dashes the dreams of employees aiming to have a career in the technology sector.

DELAY OF WAGES:

In India, the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 mandates definite timelines for wage payment that depend on the number of employees in a company. Nevertheless, non-payment and late payment of wages are common practices that are found more in some sectors. These activities may lead to legal implications and fines against the employers. Under the Act, employers are obliged to determine a wage period, which should not be more than one month, and wages have to be paid within seven days from the expiry of this period. In the event of termination of employment, wages have to be paid within two days from the date of termination.

Regrettably, most organizations are not meeting these minimum wage demands and offering such necessary benefits as provident funds to their employees. This late payment of wages not only hits employees' finances but also decreases their motivation and passion at the workplace. Therefore, most employees are forced to look for secondary sources of income to survive. The continued problem of wage puts forth the need for stricter enforcement of labor laws and greater accountability of employers towards ensuring equitable treatment of employees in India. This delay in wage payments diminishes employees' motivation and enthusiasm, prompting them to seek alternative sources of income.

Long hours, no overtime pay

The Factories Act of 1948, among other such Acts in states, requires that the workers must not work for over 48 hours a week and 9 hours a day. Nevertheless, increased working hours are now a real burden to the majority, particularly in urban towns. In metropolises like Bangalore, most people spend typically 10 hours in the office and another 2 to 3 hours travelling, sometimes more. Most of them eat, sleep, and put make-up for work on public transport itself.

One of my friends in another city begins her day at 7:30 am by reading work emails, despite her official workday starting at 9 am and running until 11 pm, five days a week, for a big US consulting firm. She says the lengthy hours leave her "tired and anxious," frequently giving up sleep in the quest for private time. "I don't know how people do marriages, children, and elder care with such demanding work schedules", she said. The similarity between all these workers who work for the long hours is they serve multinational corporations (MNCs), many of whom are not paid for the additional time worked.

Conclusion:

Precisely, employees are not voicing their concerns effectively to the government despite optimistic answers from officials. As a result of  overpopulation, numerous people in India find it challenging to get jobs and hence employees prefer having job security than a comfortable working environment in the prevailing job crisis. There’s a saying, ‘Work hard, Play hard’, and people today are conveniently used to it. Although, most appreciate their employment in this competitive work world, but they hardly feel satisfied with their work environment as a whole.   

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