Lessons from West Bengal

The rise of digitalization has led to the emergence of new forms of employment relationships – with poorer regulation and protection and more isolated workers. The traditional German trade unions find it difficult to adapt to this change. A look at India can be an important source of inspiration, as Siavash Valizadeh discovered during a research trip to the state of West Bengal.

Trade unions face new challenges in the digitalized and globalized world of work. A recent study by WZB researcher Siavash Valizadeh shows that the way Indian trade unions deal with informal employment relationships can provide important impulses for German trade unions. It is becoming clear that traditional trade union structures and strategies need to be rethought in order to respond effectively to the dynamic changes in the world of work.

In the Indian state of West Bengal, where some 90 percent of employment is informal and poorly regulated, the need for action by local unions is great. Siavash Valizadeh examined the mobilization strategies of these unions. They have specialized in supporting informally employed people not only through negotiations with employers but also through active participation in the everyday lives of the workers. This fosters a sense of community and enables the unions to advocate for better wages and working conditions.

German trade unions need to rethink

Informal labor – including unpaid care work – is also on the rise in Germany. The German trade union movement could learn from the experiences of Indian trade unions. They rely on local networks and personal contacts to mobilize workers in fragmented employment relationships.

Helping to shape the new world of labor

A key finding of the study is that trade unions in West Bengal have been successful in representing the interests of the working population, regardless of their form of employment. Given the fast-paced nature of employment relationships, it would be important for German unions to think beyond their traditional model. It is important to connect the political and social issues that affect all workers and to promote an inclusive trade union movement that is diverse and dynamic. The insights from India make it clear that trade unions can play a crucial role not only in securing jobs, but also in creating a stronger, more cohesive society.

Siavash Valizadeh works and conducts research in the doctoral program ‘Good Work in a Transformative World’ at the WZB.

An article about his study on trade unions in West Bengal was published in the September 2024 issue of WZB-Mitteilungen (in German). 

Siavash Valizadeh took the cover picture in a trade union office in West Bengal. It shows the local office of the CPI (Communist Party of India) in Kolkata – this is also where the union organization of the city's construction workers meets.

11.11.24