The Mumbai World Social Forum is keenly awaited by millions of workers in the informal sector in India. They are anxious to know if their problems will find space in the discussions and debates during the weak-long gathering. The critics of WSF doubt its likely impact on the working class struggle. According to them, the WSF process does not give any impetus to class struggle, nor its process lead beyond discussion and debate. Also, they say, the WSF does not propose to move towards a common action. In the background of the earlier gathering in Porto Alegre, Brazil and a series of regional meetings held in Argentina, Italy, Palestine, India and Ethiopia, the critics argue that the WSF has simply given an impetus to the ‘next Social Forum and the next’.

What is important for the struggling masses in the current epoch is such events kindle the hope for continuing their struggle against imperialism and seek support from others. In a unipolar world with domination of imperialist forces, the search for creation of vibrant alternatives is a process that can and will have the potential to strengthen the

compatibility of the struggling masses. The current debate can create a climate for building alliances on common issues. In this context, the earlier gatherings had their own importance. The debate can be taken further and enhance its quality in the search towards alternative policies.

The globalisation has resulted in increasing misery of the toiling masses, especially in the third world countries. The policies imposed by the World Bank, IMF and WTO in the past one deacade have had a devastating effect on their poor. The living and working conditions of the labour have been adversely affected. The policies that have caused considerable hardship to the labour include dismantling of the worker’s security of employment, reduction of wages in the social products, closure of independent small enterprises and handicraft/handloom sector, destruction of food security, privatisation of activities, assets and natural resources, sharp increases in the cost of essential services and goods such as electricity, health care, education, transport and food, dispossession of tribal land and handing over of forests to corporate interests, growth of unemployment and underemployment.The workers in the informal sector, both in urban and rural areas, have become the worst victims of these policies.

In India, the unorganised workers constitute 93 per cent of the total workforce. The unorgnised workers do not enjoy their basic rights and are not governed by any tangible legislation with the result they continue to be below the poverty line. There is no social security and salaries are meagre. It is this situation that compels them to create a visibility for themselves. The forthcoming WSF, therefore, has an added significance for the workers in the informal sector. A number of issues vital to them, especially the right to organise and bargain, social security, minimum wages and occupational health and safety are get the focus in the meet.

For the vast majority of unorganised workers from agriculture, forestry and construction, home-based labour and the self-employed, this will be an event for raising their issues and creating a space for their cause. According to activists working among garment workers, the WSF is an opportunity to meet their counterparts in other countries and seek solidarity with them. Sujata Mody of the Women Workers Union based in Chennai looks forward to the event to discuss the problems faced by women workers in the unorganised sector and forge a unity with the workers of other countries on common issues. She says:”The condition of women workers in the informal sector is quite pitiable. They are often forced to work under deplorable conditions. The situation of women workers in the informal sector in other countries is also similar. We will get the opportunity to learn from others and also to share our experience with them.”

The agriculture workers, who have been waiting for a comprehensive legislation for the last two decades, finds it encouraging that their demands will be heard and discussed at last. Activists connected with forest workers are looking to the WSF as an occasion to build a national and international network. Ashok Choudhary of the National Forum for Forest Workers and Forest People, says:”Our attempt will be to raise the issues of forest workers for evolving an alternate strategy against the imperialist policies and machinations of MNCs. We want to evolve a struggle strategy to protect the livelihood of forest dwellers from the onslaught of MNCs.”

Unorganised workers in the country are poised for a greater struggle for social security measures, protection of employment, livelihood and labour rights.

M Subbu of the Tamil Nadu State Construction Worker’s Union sees the WSF as an event that will unleash a greater potential for the unity and struggle of the workers. He says this will alter the socio-political situation in India.