Appeal on the occasion of Chancellor Scholz’s visit to India

In the run-up to the German Chancellor’s visit to India on Thursday (October 24), the organizations “mehr Wert!” and the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) called on Olaf Scholz to take a clear stand against the erosion of labor rights in India and to advocate for consistent measures against bonded labor and other forms of forced labor. “It cannot be that Germany – in order to secure more business deals – turns a blind eye when worker’s rights and human rights are trampled underfoot,” the organizations wrote in a letter to Scholz.

“In India, measures to strengthen the economy are being implemented at the expense of workers,” the letter states. In 2019 and 2020, a total number of 29 labor protection provisions were repealed without any discussion in parliament and without prior consultation with the trade unions. “93 percent of the workers – the entire informal sector – are inherently excluded from any labor rights, meaning that 500 million people are not entitled to a minimum wage or to minimum working standards,” the undersigned organizations stated.  

Globally, 18.4 million people are affected by bonded labor, which is to be seen as a form of forced labor. In India, bonded labor is closely connected to the caste system. Most of the bonded laborers belong to the Dalit community, who were once known as the “untouchables”, while the profiteers belong to the so-called upper castes.

“Often, the victims are completely dependent on and at the mercy of their employer – financially, physically, and psychologically. For fear of repressive measures – ranging from everyday harassment to social boycotts and physical violence by the employer, his family, or other members of his caste – it is almost impossible for bonded laborers to request being freed,” the organizations explained.

In talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high-ranking politicians, Scholz should criticize the cutbacks on labor rights and the fact that the vast majority of the working population are excluded from the remaining labor rights. Also, the organizations called on him to clearly demand a complete abolition of bonded labor – as already provided for in the law.

Tamara Enhuber (“mehr Wert!”): +49 174 47109800

Sarah Reinke (Society for Threatened Peoples): +49 551 49906-13 or s.reinke@gfbv.de