An Analytical Study on the Challenges Affecting the Effective Functioning of Trade Unions in India and Measures for Their Strengthening

This paper examines the challenges affecting the effective functioning of trade unions in India and the measures that can strengthen them. It is a doctrinal study, set against the Constitution, the Trade Unions Act, 1926 and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. It finds that trade unions still matter in Indian industrial relations: they represent workers, support bargaining and give people somewhere to take their grievances and welfare needs. Their effectiveness, however, is held back by three connected problems: membership that is falling or not growing, especially among informal, contract and platform workers; too many unions competing for recognition in the same workplace or industry; and leadership that often lacks training, transparent governance or negotiation support. The law has started to respond, through recognised negotiating unions, wider coverage for new kinds of workers and continued protection for the right to organise, but changes in the law alone will not rebuild union strength. The paper recommends a simpler and better publicised process for verifying negotiating unions, targeted organising support for informal and platform workers, regular leadership training, voluntary federation among unions, and stronger protection against victimisation for union activity.