Just Transition in Thermal Power Plants

As India pushes forward in its climate commitments, the transition from coal to renewable energy has become both urgent and inevitable. But what does this mean for the workers who have powered our grids for decades?

Our latest report examines the lived realities of contractual workers at the Ukai Thermal Power Plant in Gujarat—one of many such coal-based plants at the frontline of the energy transition. Drawing on fieldwork, worker testimonies, and legal documentation, the study explores the stark inequalities faced by these workers, from low wages and job insecurity to health risks and limited social protections.

With over two-thirds of the workforce employed on contract, the study highlights how outsourcing and erosion of worker protections have created a deeply unjust baseline—even before the full impact of a green transition is felt. Yet, the story is not only one of precarity. The report also documents the decades-long struggle led by the Bijli Majdoor Panchayat (BMP), a union fighting for regularization, safety, and dignity in the workplace.

As India moves to phase down coal in line with global climate goals, the report calls for urgent policy interventions to ensure no worker is left behind. A truly just transition must centre the rights and voices of the workers most affected by the shift.