We, labour rights activists, trade union representatives, feminist political economy practitioners, representatives of women’s rights organizations, gig and platform workers’ collectives; migrant workers’ advocates, academics, researchers, youth activists, human rights defenders, and civil society organizations from across SouthAsia* and beyond, gathered during Labour History Month, reaffirm that labour rights are fundamental human rights and essential to democracy, equality, and sustainable development.
We recognize that despite significant contributions to our economies, millions of workers across South Asia continue to face low wages, insecure employment, unsafe working conditions, shrinking labour protections, restrictions on collective bargaining, and rising costs of living. Women workers, migrant workers, informal workers, plantation workers, domestic workers, agricultural workers, and gig and platform workers remain among the most vulnerable.
We further recognize that economic crises, austerity measures, debt burdens, climate change, technological transformations, and growing inequalities are intensifying existing labour injustices across the region.
We affirm that labour justice cannot be achieved without gender justice. Women’s paid and unpaid labour sustains families, communities, and economies, yet remains undervalued and inadequately recognized. We therefore call for labour policies that incorporate feminist perspectives and address structural inequalities affecting women and marginalized communities.
Accordingly, we call upon governments, employers, regional institutions, and international actors to:
- Guarantee decent work, living wages, safe working conditions, and social protection for all workers.
- Extend labour rights and social security protections to workers in the informal economy.
- Protect the rights of migrant workers and eliminate exploitative recruitment and employment practices.
- Recognize and protect gig and platform workers, including their rights to fair remuneration, social security, and collective representation.
- Eliminate workplace discrimination, violence, and harassment, and promote gender equality in all sectors of employment.
- Uphold freedom of association, collective bargaining, and the right of workers to organize without fear or retaliation.
- Ensure that climate policies and economic transitions are grounded in principles of labour justice and a just transition.
- Strengthen accountability of corporations and global supply chains for labour rights violations.
We commit ourselves to strengthening regional solidarity among labour movements, feminist movements, trade unions, worker collectives, researchers, and civil society actors across South Asia. We will continue to share knowledge, build alliances, amplify workers’ voices, and advocate collectively for policies that place human dignity, equality, care, and social justice at the centre of economic development.
We envision a South Asia where every worker enjoys dignity, security, fair treatment, equal opportunity, and the freedom to participate in shaping the conditions of their work and lives.
Adopted on 31 May 2026
Endorsed by speakers and participants of the Sapan online seminar ‘Histories of Struggle, Futures of Solidarity: Labour Rights in SouthAsia’ including labour rights movements, trade unions, feminist movements, women’s rights organizations, gig and platform workers’ collectives, migrant workers’ networks, academic and research institutions, human rights organizations, youth movements, and civil society organizations across Southasia.
*Why do we write ‘Southasia’ as one word?
Because our histories are intertwined, our futures interlinked, and our struggles deeply connected.