UNIONIZATION OF SEX WORKERS

AUTHOR – SRINIDHI TIRUNAGARI & UMESH RATHOD

STUDENTS AT SYMBIOSIS LAW SCHOOL, HYDERABAD

BEST CITATION – SRINIDHI TIRUNAGARI & UMESH RATHOD, UNIONIZATION OF SEX WORKERS, ILE LABOUR LAW REVIEW, 4 (1) OF 2025, PG. 35-45, APIS – 3920 – 0009 | ISSN – 2583-6161.

ABSTRACT:

Unionization of sex workers in India will be a significant movement for the recognition of rights of laborers, social security and legal recognition. Despite of criminalizing sex work there are few organizations like Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee and the National Network of Sex Workers have emerged to educate and safeguard about the rights of sex workers. These types of organizations work to protect the working conditions, health, legal protection and put end to police harassment. However, there are few challenges due to which the whole rights for   the sex workers have not been provided because of legal ambiguities and lack of policymaker’s resistance.  Sex workers organizations / unions are making few policies which includes decriminalization of sex work and also providing social welfare schemes for the sex workers. These unions are working towards discrimination, brutality of police and social ostracization. Unionization, granting them equal rights, dignity and social security can empower the sex workers.  This paper provides the impact, evolution and challenges of the sex workers and their unions which are faced and their key role in emphasizing the advanced labor rights and human dignity. This paper argues that the sex work should be made as a legitimate labor and ensure legal protection by unionizing, providing rights to sex workers will make our society to be positive and equitable.

Keywords: Unionization, Sex Work, Decriminalization, Dignity, Legal Recognition, Discrimination, Social Security.