Trade unions and unorganised workers

Trade unions are the collective bargaining negotiator of the total workforce. While there has been swift increase of problems leading to worsening of the situation of the organized labour and the escalating informal labour, the trade union movement is facing a challenge in the in all most all the countries. India is not an exception to this global phenomenon. It is very common in our country to see some trade union actions in terms of all India strikes, almost every year; one wonders how far the trade union movement of this kind has been successful in protecting the interests of the unorganised labour who are deprived of legal protection. This paper examines the working of trade unions in informal or unorganised sector safeguarding the rights and interests of the the unorganised workers in Tamilnadu. Labour rights are undoubtedly basic human rights which cannot be infringed or taken away by the employers. Right to collective bargaining and right to join the trade union is an integral part of the human right. International instruments on human rights, national and regional labour laws also attempt to protect the rights of both organised and unorganised workers at workplaces.