Statement of Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan (MASA)
The contract system has today become the biggest tool of exploitation in the hands of capitalists. Without abolishing this exploitative system, no real improvement in workers’ conditions is possible. The demands of the working class for the abolition of the contract system and for a monthly minimum wage of Rs. 30,000 are completely legitimate and deserve the active support of all workers.
(Translation of Hindi statement)
Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan (MASA)
C-141, Sainik Nagar, Dwarka, New Delhi – 110059
Date: 09.04.2026
Solidarity with workers’ struggles across the country including Haryana – Raise the minimum wage to Rs. 30,000!
In industrial areas across the country, including Gurgaon-Manesar and Panipat in Haryana, the struggle of contract and temporary workers is spreading rapidly. Thousands of workers from companies like Honda, Munjal Showa, Satyam, Roop Polymers, Rico, Modelama, Sirma SGS, and Richa Global have taken to the streets, demanding basic and legal rights such as an increase in minimum wages, an 8-hour workday, double-rate overtime, and an end to the contract system. Workers are also fighting at Panipat’s IOCL refinery and synthetic rubber factory. Alongside this, they are united against exploitation such as black-marketing of LPG gas, denial of double overtime payment, and non-implementation of minimum wages. This movement is entirely just.
As a result of the widespread workers’ movement and continuous struggle, the Haryana government was forced to announce on 8 April an increase of about 35% in minimum wages. But this increase has been fixed at only Rs. 15,200, which in today’s inflation is nothing more than starvation wages. When you add basic expenses like rising prices, house rent, children’s education, medical treatment, and food, this amount is completely insufficient for a worker and his family to live a dignified life. Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan considers this increase in minimum wages announced by the Haryana government inadequate. It is important to recall that even based on the standards set in the 1957 Labour Conference, the minimum wage should be at least ₹30,000. Therefore, this demand is not for any new or additional facility, but for a decades-old legal and moral right that the government and the employer class have continuously denied.
The second major demand of the workers’ movement is the strict implementation of the rule of an 8-hour workday in factories, on which the Haryana government has remained completely silent in its recent announcement. Today, in most industrial areas of the country, including Gurgaon-Manesar and Panipat, workers are being forced to work 10–12 hours and even up to 14 hours, without any proper additional payment. Workers worldwide have fought a long and historic struggle for the 8-hour workday, and this right is clearly enshrined in law—but this law recorded on paper is not implemented on the ground. Factory owners and contractors openly flout this rule, while the administration turns a blind eye.
As far as overtime is concerned, the law clearly states that for extra work, wages must be paid at double the normal rate. But in practice, companies and contractors either do not pay overtime at all or pay only at the normal rate. This is a direct violation of the law and an open loot of workers’ labour. We demand that double-rate overtime payment be ensured without any exceptions and that strict action be taken against guilty managements for violations.
We also demand that workers be given permanent employment for jobs of a permanent nature. Today, workers who have been working in factories for years are kept on contract and deprived of all rights of permanent employees—such as PF, ESI, gratuity, leave, and job security. The government remains completely silent on this issue and appears to stand on the side of companies and contractors. We believe this system has been deliberately created to keep workers weak and insecure. We clearly state that when the work is permanent, the employment must also be permanent—this principle is not only just but also legally valid.
In this context, we demand the complete abolition of the contract system. The contract system has today become the biggest weapon of exploitation in the hands of capitalists. Through it, the employer class prevents workers from organizing, keeps their wages low, and dismisses them at will. Under the name of contract labour, labour laws are openly violated, and on the question of responsibility, companies and contractors keep shifting blame onto each other. In this entire process, the worker is crushed. Without abolishing this exploitative system, no real improvement in workers’ conditions is possible.
We stand firmly with the workers in this struggle and strongly condemn the repressive attitude of the administration. Instead of listening to workers’ demands, the Labour Minister has resorted to repressing their representatives and activists, detaining them at night, and forcing them to sign contracts—thus violating democratic rights openly.
On 9 April 2026, in Manesar, the police lathi-charge and detentions against workers engaged in a peaceful strike and forced return to work have further worsened the situation. But history bears witness that repression does not crush workers’ movements—it only makes them stronger.
Workers protesting against the attempt to forcibly return Richa Export and Modelama workers to work were subjected to repression, and some were locked inside the factory and forced to work.
This spontaneous and widespread workers’ movement marks the beginning of a new and decisive phase of struggle. We accept the partial increase in minimum wages as a small victory. This victory is the result of the nationwide workers’ movement that has been ongoing for several months. But this is not our final goal—through this partial concession, the government is trying to deceive and pacify the workers’ movement. Workers will take courage from this partial victory and intensify their struggle. The fight will continue for the complete abolition of the contract system and for a minimum wage of Rs. 30,000.
We call upon all workers’ organizations in the country, people’s forces, and every individual who stands against exploitation to join shoulder to shoulder in this just struggle—because this fight is not only of Manesar or Haryana, but of the entire working class.
Long live workers’ unity!
The struggle against exploitation will continue!
With revolutionary greetings,
Central Coordination Team
Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan (MASA)