Institutionalization of International Labor Rights had Less Impact in Undivided India Due to Colonial Legacy and Social Prejudice to Manual Labor

This article explores the growth and significance of international labour rights in pre-partitioned India in the context of colonial policies and caste-based social divisions, and their role in shaping labour rights. While the creation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1919 marked a world commitment to decent and humane working conditions, this was not translated to colonial India due to British economic interests and oppressive labour legislation. The paper examines how significant laws like the Factories Act, 1881 and the Indian Trade Union Act, 1926 were largely enshrinements of colonial policy and not in the service of workers. It also examines the impact of caste discrimination on labour solidarity and its impact on collective bargaining. <br> <br> Nonetheless, the paper outlines how labour movements slowly began to form, with the help of nationalist leaders and trade unions, and accompanied early labour reforms to increase awareness. It also examines the big bang effects of colonial labour laws on post-independence labour laws, such as the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The research concludes that although the positive impact of international labour rights was limited in the colonial era, they indirectly contributed to the framework of labour rights in South Asia.