Vizag steel plant workers mark two millennia of privatisation protests

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing workers at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has marked 2,000 days of continuous protest against the government's privatisation plans for the strategic industrial asset. The milestone underscores the intensity and persistence of resistance from employees and labour unions who have maintained their campaign despite the passage of more than five years.

Workers have voiced concerns that privatisation would jeopardise job security, compromise wage structures, and undermine the plant's status as a major employer in Andhra Pradesh. The facility, located in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, is a significant contributor to the region's economy and has historically provided stable employment to thousands of workers and their families.

The JAC's sustained agitation has involved regular protests, demonstrations, and engagement with political leadership at both state and national levels. Union representatives have consistently argued that the steel plant should remain under public sector control, emphasising its strategic importance for India's industrial base and the livelihoods of its workforce.

The continued standoff reflects broader debates in India regarding the pace and scope of privatisation in the public sector, with labour groups maintaining that strategic assets should serve national interests rather than be transferred to private entities. The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant dispute has emerged as a test case in these discussions, drawing attention from workers' organisations and political parties across the spectrum.