Over the last two decades, the Indian economy has fully integrated intp the global capitalist economy. This has led to the growth of huge industrial zones where companies seek to take advantage of low wages and favourable laws.

One of these areas in the Gurgaon region in Haryana state just to the north of the capital New Delhi. Automotive factories are one of the sectors that have established in this sector. There have been many huge labour actions and strikes in the last decade, for example the Maruti-Suzuki struggle that began in 2011, as workers protest against low wages, unsafe working conditions, and precarious employment contracts.

This week, we spoke to Shivani Kaul, Political Activist with Bigul Mazdoor Dasta and Legal Advisor, Automobile Industry Contract Workers Union, about the strike that began earlier this month by thousands of contract workers employed at the Honda Automotive factory in Gurgaon.

Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia