ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

The Moral Economy of Labour: Revisiting Ambedkar’s Blueprint for Equity and Inclusion

India’s labour market tells a story of contradiction. The economy has grown steadily over the decades, yet the majority of workers still live with insecurity, low pay, and little social protection. More than 90 % of the workforce is trapped in the unorganised sector, where minimum wages, healthcare, and pensions are out of reach. For women and for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, the challenges are even harsher—they remain concentrated in the most insecure and lowest-paid jobs. In this context, the labour philosophy of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar feels strikingly urgent and contemporary. Far more than the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, Ambedkar was also a pioneering Labour Member in the Viceroy’s Executive Council between 1942 and 1946. His reforms—the eight-hour workday, maternity leave, and social insurance—were rooted in a larger idea: that labour is not only about earning a living but also about dignity, justice, and equal participation in democracy. This study revisits Ambedkar’s vision and asks how relevant it is today. Using a mixed approach, it draws 60 % from his speeches, writings, and reforms, and 40 % from data provided by PLFS, NSSO, and ILO reports. The evidence is clear: gender wage gaps remain at 25–36 %, SCs and STs earn nearly a third less than general category workers, and three-fourths of India’s workforce is still in informal employment. Only a small minority enjoy social security; just 12 % of women receive maternity benefits. What emerges is a wide gulf between Ambedkar’s ideals and today’s realities. Recent Labour Codes, rather than strengthening protections, risk eroding them further. This paper argues that India’s growth must be tied to Ambedkar’s principles of fairness, dignity, and inclusion. Work cannot be treated as a mere economic factor—it must be recognised as the foundation of human dignity and democratic citizenship. Keywords Ambedkar; Labour Philosophy; Informal Economy; Gender Inequality; Caste Discrimination; Social Justice; Labour Welfare; Labour Codes; India; Equity and Inclusion.