Upskilling and reskilling waste workers in the circular economy of Kerala

This paper examines the role of upskilling and reskilling in transforming waste work within the emerging circular economy in India. The available literature on waste management and skill development overlooks the interconnection between skill development and the transformation of the waste workforce in the Global South. This study addresses this gap through a case study of Green Worms, a leading social enterprise in Kerala, India, that manages plastic waste and drives a circular economic transition. Using a qualitative case study approach that includes semi-structured interviews, participant observation, document analysis, and case studies, this paper examines the social embeddedness of upskilling and reskilling processes in the waste management sector. The study looked at different upskilling and reskilling initiatives contacted by Geen Worms, trainings for segregation, menstrual hygiene, self-defense, first aid, prevention of sexual harassment etc., to understand the role of skill training in strengthening the green workforce within decentralized waste management systems. Its role in reshaping the social identity of waste workers by reducing occupational stigma and reframing waste work as dignified work. The paper argues that upskilling and reskilling are central to this transition toward a circular economy. By linking labour transformation, gender, dignity of labour, and circular economy transitions, the study contributes to discussions on green skills, informal labour formalization, and sustainable development in the Global South. The skill development in the waste management sector is not merely technical training processes but socially embedded practices that transform stigmatized informal waste work into skilled, formalizing, and gender-inclusive green labour.