Causes:

1. Interest of Labourers: Generally the industrialists concentrate on their profit rather than on workers and their welfare. Labourers are exploited by way of giving lesser wages, not declaring bonus, extended hours of work, denial of medical facilities, dismissal from service and the like. To overcome such situations, the affected labourers organize and voice their grievances through agitations which leads to labour movement. During 1920 All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was organised and got legal recognition by the British Government.

2. Negligence towards employees: The matters concerning to labourers were decided U unilaterally by the Apex body of the Company. Naturally, the interests of labourers were neglected. As a result, hostile relationship was the order of the day.

3. To get facilities: As the labourers are engaged in monotonous physical strain they need to have a break in between. To get proper facilities for both male and female workers as per their requirements like potable water, cafeteria, toilet facilities, restrooms, creaches, medical facilities etc., movements have started.

4. Welfare programs: The fate of the companies depends upon the welfare and well being of the workers. To get the social security measures like Bonus, Allowances, Loans, insurance, Free quarters, Transport and Educational facilities, workmen compensation, pension, family pension etc., they came together to form organisations that paved the way for labour movements.

Political Implications: To meet the demands of work and to provide welfare programmes the Government has taken some measures and they are:-

1. Constitutional measures: Part IV of the Indian Constitution which deals with the Directive Principles of State Policy directs State Government to adopt socialist measures like equal pay for equal work for both men and women and to provide leave facilities for pregnant women for both prenatal and postnatal care. The Concurrent list empowers the governments to legislate on workers welfare.

2. Government of India has made legislation on personal labour laws as follows: 

The labour laws of 1970 have fixed the wages of workers appointed on contract basis. Workmen Compensation Act of 1923, Salary payment Act of 1936, Weekly Holiday Act of 1942, Minimum wage Act of 1948, Employees State Insurance Act of 1948. Employees Provident Fund Act of 1952, Bonus Act of 1965 are some of the important labour acts.

Some prominent labour orgnisations are:

1. All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC): With the belief in Socialistic pattern of Society, this started in 1920. It was working as a Labour Union and came under the grip of communists after independence. Its aim was nationalising the industries, protection of labour rights, labour welfare etc.,

2. Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC): Because of ideological differences, some congressmen came out of AITUC and started INTUC in May 1947 with the support of Congress party on non-violent philosophy.

3. Bharateeya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS): Founded by Dattopanth Thengdi for upholding the patriotic spirit among the labour population during 1955 on the Birthday of Sri Bal Gangadhar Tilak. It is not affiliated to any International Trade Union Confederation. An estimated 5860 labour unions are affiliated to BMS and it is one of the largest central Trade Unions of India according to the 2002 statistics of Ministry of Labour.

4. Centre for Trade Union (CITU): Communist leaders like S.A Dange and E.M.S. Namboodaripad took the stand to oppose the imperialistic attitude of the trade unions. In 1964, Marxists started CITU because of differences between leftist and rightist ideologies of AITUC. West Bengal, Kerala, Tripura are the Marxist strongholds.

5. Other major organisations: Hindu Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Hindu Mazdoor Panchayath (HMP), United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) and other organisations are also struggling hard to protect the interests of labourers.

In total, Labour Movements are trying to improve the welfare and standard of living of the workers. The success of these movements can be seen through Government programmes. As Karl Marx said, “Unite the workers of the world, you are going to lose shackles of slavery, but nothing else.”

The celebration of May Day throughout the world on 1^st May of every year proves the significance of labour force and the movement.