ITUC-Asia Pacific facilitated a series of engagements between British and Indian trade unions in New Delhi and Mumbai, India from 11–15 October 2026, strengthening cooperation to advance workers’ rights and ensure that labour commitments under the India–United Kingdom (UK) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) translate into concrete improvements for workers.
The discussions focused on Chapter 20 on Labour of the bilateral trade agreement, particularly the importance of effective implementation of commitments relating to freedom of association, collective bargaining, labour law enforcement, and decent working conditions. Trade union representatives emphasised the need for continued cooperation to monitor implementation, identify challenges, and advocate for workers’ rights to be central to the expanding trade and investment relationship between the two countries.
On 11 October 2026, trade unions had an opportunity for a dialogue with visiting UK regional political leaders, including: Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire; Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region; Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire; Louise Gittins, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority; Kim McGuinness, Mayor of the North East; David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire; and Luke Campbell, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire. The exchange highlighted the importance of ensuring that closer economic ties between India and the UK result in decent job creation, improved working conditions, and inclusive economic development.
Trade unions were represented by the four Indian trade union centres affiliated with ITUC-Asia Pacific: Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and Confederation of Free Trade Unions of India (CFTUI). They were joined by representatives of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), UNI Global Union, and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES).
Harbhajan Singh Sidhu, General Secretary of HMS and President of the South Asian Regional Trade Union Council (SARTUC), underscored the importance of the labour chapter in the context of ongoing changes to India's labour laws. He said:
“At a time when India is witnessing the codification of labour laws, with growing concerns over the weakening of workers’ rights and the role of trade unions, the inclusion of a labour chapter in the India–UK trade agreement provides an important tool for workers and trade unions to defend their rights. The challenge now is to see how we can work together to ensure its effective implementation.”
The engagements continued in Mumbai from 14–15 October, where Dave Pike, Regional Secretary of Trades Union Congress (TUC) North East, Yorkshire and Humber, joined discussions with CFTUI, INTUC, and HMS affiliates, namely, the National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU), and the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI).
The Mumbai discussions provided opportunities to exchange perspectives on sector-specific challenges, workers’ rights, and areas for closer cooperation between British and Indian trade unions, particularly in sectors affected by trade and investment developments. Shoya Yoshida, ITUC-Asia Pacific General Secretary, said:
Building on the existing dialogue between the UK TUC and Indian trade unions, the engagements reinforced the importance of sustained trade union involvement in the implementation of Chapter 20 of CETA. “While the inclusion of labour provisions in the agreement provides an important framework, its effectiveness will depend on meaningful implementation, enforcement, and engagement with workers and their representatives."
Moving forward, the UK TUC and Indian affiliates of ITUC-Asia Pacific agreed on the need to institutionalise the dialogue initiated during these engagements to ensure sustained cooperation and follow-up on the implementation of labour commitments under CETA. Other potential areas for cooperation include joint advocacy, information sharing, and capacity-building initiatives with global union federations and other partners.
For ITUC-Asia Pacific, the priority is to ensure that expanding trade and investment relations between India and the UK deliver tangible benefits for workers, with respect for fundamental labour rights, decent work, and social dialogue at the centre of implementation.
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