Since March, the country has witnessed a number of agitations by workers, particularly by those in the manufacturing sector. In the background of these protests for minimum wages; expansion of the social security ambit; and against the contractualisation of jobs, the role of trade unions have come up for discussion. There have been concerns about the impact of deunionisation and how it has affected the workers. Kingshuk Sarkar and Fredy K. Thazhath discuss the question in a conversation moderated by A. M. Jigeesh.

Kingshuk Sarkar is Professor and Area Chair for general management and economics, Goa Institute of Management. Fredy K. Thazhath is National President, Trade Union Centre of India.