Worker Dignity & Protection

Worker Dignity & Protection by Kumar Shubham is a compelling and timely work that addresses the stark divide between India's progressive legal frameworks and the harsh realities faced by its informal workforce. Encompassing over 90% of the nation's labor force-from domestic workers and construction laborers to gig economy contractors and factory personnel-this vast population remains largely excluded from functional safety nets, fair compensation, and constitutional guarantees. Across three meticulously researched sections, the book offers a critical evaluation of constitutional rights, industrial safety execution, and gender-focused social protection policies. The work first examines Article 21 jurisprudence, arguing that constitutional dignity must transcend theoretical judicial interpretation to become an enforceable, everyday reality that dismantled deep-seated social and systemic barriers for unorganized laborers. It then evaluates the operational failures in high-risk industrial environments, detailing how understaffed inspectorates and administrative gaps under the Factories Act, 1948 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 leave contract workers vulnerable to serious hazards. Finally, the book critiques India's 26-week paid maternity leave policy, demonstrating how its employer-funded design and strict thresholds transform a vital safeguard into an exclusive privilege, while proposing sustainable shared-funding alternatives. Essential reading for legal professionals, scholars, and policymakers, Worker Dignity & Protection provides a persuasive roadmap for placing human dignity at the center of labor reform and granting informal workers their rightful status as fully empowered constitutional citizens.