The largest federations in the country, which represent labour at the national level, are known as central trade union organisations (CTUOs).
[4] The establishment of textile and clothing mills around the port cities of Bombay (now Mumbai), Calcutta (now Kolkata), Madras (now Chennai), and Surat in the latter half of the 19th century marked the beginnings of the industrial workforce in India.
Following the rapid growth of unions around the time of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the establishment of the ILO, industrial conflict began to rise, with over 1,000 strikes recorded between 1920 and 1924.
This broad influence of unions and workers' organisations led to the enactment of significantly favourable social legislation in the first decade of Independence, including several important labour laws.
Following the country’s independence in 1947 and the formation of the republic in 1950, India largely adopted a socialist economic approach, promoting public sector employment and pro-worker legislation.
The trade union movement reflected the major political divisions of the time, being primarily divided along socialist and communist lines.
Efforts to unionise in the private sector were often met with opposition, and the general withdrawal of state support for workers further undermined their bargaining power.
The largest federations in the country represent labour at the national level and are known as central trade union organisations (CTUs or CTUOs).
To acquire status as a CTUO, a trade union federation must have a verified membership of at least 500,000 workers spread across a minimum of four states and four industries (including agriculture).