Trade Unions or labor unions are associations of workers involved in similar trade or industry that works for the benefit of these workers. In India, these unions are under the Trade Union Act (1926) and their statistics are collected annually by the Labour Bureau of the Ministry of Labour, Government of India. There are more than 16,154 trade unions in India as per a 2012 report and most of these unions are often affiliated to larger Federations. The Central Trade Union Organisations (CTUO) is the largest federation in the country that represents labors at the national level. There are 12 CTUOs recognized by the Ministry of Labour. Check out the Trade Unions of India 2023 list and other important details about them such as affiliation, number of members, etc.
List of Trade Unions in India 2023
The International Labour Organization has listed 12 officially recognized CTUOs under the Ministry of Labour. A trade union federation with at least 500,000 workers spread over a minimum of four states and four industries can become a CTUO. Check out the list of CTUO in India in 2023 in the table below.
| Trade Union | Membership (as of 2013) | Political party |
| All India Central Council of Trade Unions (ICCTU) | 2,500,000 | Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation |
| All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) | 14,200,000 | Communist Party of India |
| All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) | 4,700,000 | Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) |
| Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) | 17,100,000 | Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh |
| Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) | 5,700,000 | Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
| Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) | 9,200,000 | N/A |
| Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) | 33,300,000 | Indian National Congress |
| Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) | 1,900,000 | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) | 1,700,000 | |
| United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) | 383,946 (2002) | Revolutionary Socialist Party |
| Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC) | 1,600,000 | All India Forward Bloc |
List of Trade Unions in India in 2023
Other than the 12 major Central Trade Union Organisations, there are many other trade unions in India that are affiliated to certain political parties or bigger unions. Below here you can see some of the major Trade Unions in India in 2023 apart from the CTUOs.
Affiliation: Progressive Workers and Peasants of India
- All India Workers Trade Union
- Bihari Peasants Union
- All India Insurance Workers Union
- Dronagiri General Kamgar Union
- Raigad Shramik Aekta Sangh
Affiliation: Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)
- All India Federation of Trade Unions
- Andhra Pradesh Federation of Trade Unions
- Bharatiya Mazdoor Sabha
- Indian Federation of Trade Unions
- Trade Union Centre of India
Non political Independent Organization
- All India Bank Officers’ Association
- All India Bank Officers’ Confederation
Affiliation: Political Parties
- Akhil Bharatiya Kamgar Sena (Akhil Bharatiya Sena)
- All India Centre of Trade Unions (Marxist Communist Party of India (United))
- All India Railwaymen’s Federation (Hind Mazdoor Sabha)
- Anna Thozhil Sanga Peravai (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam)
- Bharatiya Kamgar Sena (Shiv Sena)
- Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union-BKMU (Communist Party of India)
- Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (Janata Dal (United))
- Kerala Trade Union Congress (Kerala Congress)
- Marumalarchi Labour Front (MDMK)
- Rashtrawadi Mathadi and General Labour Union (National Congress Party)
- Shramik Vikas Sangathan(SVS) (Aam Aadmi Party)
- Telugu Nadu Trade Union Council (Telugu Desam Party)
- Bharathiya Vyapari Vyavasayi Sankh (BJP and RSS)
Affiliation: Labour Union
- All India Bank Employees Association (All India Trade Union Congress)
- Bihar-Jharkhand Sales Representatives’ Union (CITU & FMRAI)
- West Bengal State Electricity Board Employees Union (INTTUC)
- West Bengal State Electricity Workmen’s Union (CITU & EEFI)
- Federation of Medical & Sales Representatives’ Association of India (CITU)
Others:
- Independent Labour Union (Unaffiliated)
- Indian Confederation of Labour
- Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress
- Maharashtra General Kamgar Union (Kamgar Aghadi)
- Rashtriya Mulnivasi Bahujan Karmachari Sangh (BAMCEF)
- Socialist Trade Union Centre (SNDP)
- Indian Railways Technical Supervisors’ Association (IRTSA)
- Swatantra Thozhilali Union (Indian Union Muslim League)
- United Trade Union Congress (Bolshevik) (Revolutionary Socialist Party (Bolshevik))
- Rajdhani Nirman Mazdoor Kalyan Sangh, New Delhi
- Archaeological Survey of India Workers Union, New Delhi
- United Trade Union Congress (Marxist) (Revolutionary Socialist Party (Marxist))
- Jharkhand Mazdoor Sangha
- Kamgar Ekta
- Confederation of Free Trade Unions of India
FAQs
In India, there are 12 major unions that are recognized as central trade union organizations.
Madras Labour Union is one of India’s first organized labor unions that was established in 1918.
Central Trade Union Organisations (CTUOs)
