Labor organizations announce large-scale workers' strike on May 15; what are the demands?
Parliamentarians, economists, social activists, and MNREGA workers met at the Constitution Club in Delhi. The United Forum announced a large-scale workers' strike on May 15, 2026.
The meeting was called by a joint platform of agricultural and rural labor unions and organizations affiliated with the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha. MPs from the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (M), Communist Party of India (ML), Communist Party of India, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Bharat Adivasi Party were present in the meeting.
The United Forum has vowed to continue the movement at the national, state, and local levels. Their primary demand is the immediate withdrawal of the Vikas Bharat-Rojgar aur Ajivika Mission (Rural) (VB-G Ram-G) Act and the re-implementation of MGNREGA.
In addition to the repeal of VB-G Ram-G, they also demand:
- Every rural family should receive at least 200 days of employment and the minimum wage should be Rs 700 per day, which should be increased annually according to inflation.
- Technical systems used for attendance and wage payments should be removed, as they exclude workers.
- The role of Gram Sabhas should be restored and strengthened so that they become key partners in planning, implementation, and monitoring.
MGNREGA workers from Rajasthan and Punjab said, "The new law weakens the role of states, panchayats, and gram sabhas and harms the democratic and participatory nature of MNREGA."