Redefined Labour Spaces

Reviews / Votes

'The global ascendency of the neo-liberal economic reforms, for almost four decades now, has had profound implications for the politics of labour, in particular for the conventional strategies of organisation and mobilisation. The present volume, edited by Sobin George and Shalini Sinha, seeks to examine and analyse the plethora of responses and resistances by labour in India to claim/reclaim spaces for itself. Given that there has been a dearth of relevant literature on this theme, the volume is a welcome contribution. Furthermore, it is solidly grounded, in terms of capturing the processes 'from below' across several sectors (ranging from traditional to modern), empirically nuanced and analytically thought-provoking. This very worthwhile collection of essays engages remarkably well with the discourses on labour spaces in contemporary India and deepens our understanding significantly.'

Praveen Jha, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

'This volume is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand challenges faced by the contemporary labour movement. While providing fresh insights into the nature of these challenges, it avoids pessimism by reflecting on new possibilities for organising through inspiring case studies - a wonderful contribution to knowledge on this issue, for scholars, the engaged public and activists alike.'

Caroline Skinner, African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, South Africa and Urban Research Director, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)

'The informal economy dominates the Indian economy in terms of size, and yet far from enough is known about the empirical realities of informal workers. This book is a valuable contribution to advancing knowledge about ways in which informal workers have mobilised to improve their life situations, as well as new forms of mobilisations within the organised sector.'

Ratna M. Sudarshan, Former Director, Institute of Social Studies Trust, New Delhi, India