Let’s look at three recent events which symbolise workers’ plight due to lack of safety at the workplace. On June 30, in Telangana’s worst industrial mishap, 46 people died, eight are still in hospital and another eight are still missing, some possibly charred beyond recognition. This human tragedy in an industrial area, was caused by the explosion of a reactor in a chemical plant, heard several kilometres away. To call it an accident absolves the management of the neglect of proper maintenance, or not adhering to safety protocols. In the same Sangareddy district alone, 25 workers died within a four month period in 2024. The cases of injuries or near fatal cases, which have not been reported can only be guessed. But Sangareddy is just an illustrative case, not an isolated one, across the country.

Now consider another “accident”. On June 7, In the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area near Pirangut on the outskirts of Pune city, 18 workers were charred to death, 15 being women, in a deadly fire in a chemical factory. As per the investigation by some intrepid labour activists, it was revealed that the workers were not even aware they were handling hazardous chemicals. They were marked by codes masking the true name of the chemicals. It was revealed that the women workers were paid less than minimum wage.

The vulnerable are exploited, have job insecurity and face the most unsafe and risky conditions. This company was in operation since 2012, but got registered only in 2020. It also managed to obtain an ISO 9001 certification for quality management. No inspector ever visited the factory till this “accident” happened. This cannot be attributed to........

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