Members of the Maharashtra State Transport Kamgar Sangathana (MSTKS) bus workers’ union organised a demonstration on 1 March following the rape of a woman on a parked bus in Pune.
The sexual assault has sparked outrage among transport workers in India, who say authorities have repeatedly failed to protect women staff and passengers.
The rape took place in the early hours of the morning on 25 February when the survivor was waiting for a bus to her hometown.
“We condemn this rape in the strongest possible terms,” said Sheela Naikwade, women’s chairperson of the MSTKS, and member of the ITF Women Transport Workers’ Committee. “For too long, the safety of women has been treated as an afterthought, if at all. Along with ensuring passenger safety, the safety of women drivers, conductors and other women workers must also be guaranteed at all times.”
The union had previously raised alarm over the lack of security at the bus station and surrounding area with the police, but no action was taken.
Police arrested a suspect on 27 February, who is currently being held in police custody, but Naikwade insists that the arrest is only one step. Proactive measures are needed to prevent such incidents.
“Women workers who finish work late at night and then must return home remain at serious risk,” she said. “We must demand that employers step up security and monitor the safety of their workplaces, ensure safe and reliable access to women’s toilets, and provide secure public transport to and from work or safe overnight accommodation as needed.”
In a statement delivered to the Minister of Transport and the heads of Maharashtra’s transport corporation, the MSTKS outlined urgent reforms and demanded immediate action to protect women from further violence.
“Making sure women workers can get home safe is a fundamental pillar of securing women’s equality at work,” said Claire Clarke, ITF Acting Women Transport Workers' and Gender Equality Officer.
At the 2024 ITF Congress in Marrakesh, delegates representing over 700 transport unions from around the world backed a resolution calling on the ITF to actively work with affiliates to support the “Get Me Home Safely” campaign on a global scale.
“This disturbing incident underscores the urgent need to organise for measures to protect the health and safety of passengers and transport workers,” added Clarke. “Ensuring a safe commute home is a health and safety and legal responsibility shared by employers and governments.”
“We refuse to stand by while women’s basic rights and personal safety are violated. It is yet another wake-up call for governments and employers: no half-measures, no delays—women deserve to travel, work, and return home free from fear, harassment and violence.”
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Media contact: media@itf.org.uk
