Report by a Mazdoor Ekta Committee correspondent
On 29 July 2026, a national convention of workers and farmers, led by central trade unions and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, concluded at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.
More than 5000 representatives from various unions of workers and farmers across different sectors of the economy participated in this convention. These included industrial workers, public sector workers, transport workers, bank and insurance staff, teachers, government workers, piece-rate workers, gig and platform workers, scheme workers (such as Anganwadi and ASHA workers), and representatives of worker organizations from the informal sector.
At the venue—New Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium—banners displaying slogans voicing the demands of workers and farmers were displayed all around. Workers and farmers were taking photographs with the banners, both individually and in groups. The banners bore slogans in Hindi and English, such as: “The public is distressed by soaring inflation, while the government is busy lining the pockets of capitalists!”, “Struggle to establish the rule of workers and farmers!”, “Stop selling off banks, railways, insurance, electricity, healthcare, and education!”, “Stop suppressing the voices of those fighting for people’s interests!”, “Those who create the nation’s wealth must become the masters of the nation!”, “Down with the corrupt and parasitic rule of the capitalist class!”, “Intensify the united struggle against privatization, liberalization, and globalization!”, “Fight for wages that ensure a life of dignity!”, and “Long live worker-farmer unity!”
On this occasion, thousands of copies of a statement by the Mazdoor Ekta Committee were distributed amongst the delegates attending the convention.
The convention was presided over by central trade unions and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
The leaders from these organizations addressed the gathering.
Speakers at the convention unanimously condemned the anti-worker, anti-farmer, and anti-people policies of the capitalist class and their governments. They also denounced the central and state governments for dividing people along communal and caste lines.
Speakers raised their voices against the severe economic crisis, rising unemployment, unprecedented price hikes, the privatization of public sector undertakings and services, attacks on trade union rights through the four labour codes, the disregard for farmers’ demands, and foreign trade agreements made in the interest of domestic and foreign capitalists.
They stated that the government is attacking and suppressing workers, farmers, students, and the youth. They called for a united struggle to safeguard the right to livelihood and to protect the right to quality education and healthcare.
The convention unanimously adopted the following demands and resolutions:
- Repeal the four labour codes and guarantee trade union rights.
- Ensure a statutory minimum wage of ₹42,000 linked to the dearness allowance.
- Provide a legal guarantee for crop procurement at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- Cancel external trade agreements and halt privatization.
- Restore and strengthen MGNREGA and expand social security.
- Strengthen employment generation, public education, and healthcare services.
The convention called for a nationwide protest on 10 August 2026. Under this initiative, it was decided to intensify the mobilization of workers and farmers through district- and state-level demonstrations, ‘rail roko’ (rail blockades), ‘rasta roko’ (road blockades), workplace protests, human chains, and other forms of peaceful mass movements. The convention concluded with a firm resolve to strengthen the unity of workers and farmers and to further intensify the struggle.