Gender pay gap, long shifts: Workers rally for rights

Bengaluru: Hundreds of people marched from Town Hall to Freedom Park on Thursday to mark International Workers' Day and urged the government to revoke "anti-labour" laws.

Organised by the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), the rally began at Town Hall and culminated at Freedom Park, where workers from the garment, factory, construction and other industries gathered to denounce these laws.

Protesters claimed that multinationals and large companies are violating the labour code and exploiting hard-working labourers.

Members from various trade unions—AITUC INTUC HMS CITU AIUTUC AICCTU TUCC HMKP and the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU)—marched from Town Hall in Bengaluru on Thursday to mark International Workers’ Day. With banners held high they rallied for the abolition of contract employment enforcement of labour laws fair minimum wages and an end to 10-12 hour workdays demanding an 8-hour work shift for all.

The rally saw significant participation from women. Some groups were led by women who highlighted that the exploitation of women and children in workplaces has become a chronic issue. They demanded inclusive laws to address pay gaps and other gender-specific challenges at work.

Placards with slogans such as ‘No 10-hour shifts’, ‘Unify the class, strengthen the struggle’, and ‘Workers of the world unite’ drew attention.

According to AICCTU, both central and state governments have increasingly favoured corporate interests at the expense of workers in recent years. The union called for the abolition of the contract labour system, the repeal of anti-labour laws, a hike in the minimum wage to ₹42,000, and action to curb the rising cost of essential commodities.

Traffic impact

Huge traffic jam is seen at JC Road due to Various organisation held May Day rally from Town Hall in Bengaluru on Thursday 01st May 2025.

The rally disrupted traffic in the Central Business District (CBD). Vehicles moved slowly along the rally route — NR Road, Hudson Circle, KG Road, Palace Road, and Seshadri Road — with bumper-to-bumper traffic reported in several other parts of the CBD.