Indian Workers Association (GB)

The Indian Workers Association (IWA) is one of the oldest and most influential South Asian community organizations in Britain. Founded in the 1930s and strengthened after World War II, the IWA emerged as a key platform for Indian migrants—particularly working-class Punjabi men—organizing around labour rights, community solidarity, and political activism. The association played a central role in campaigns against racism, discrimination, and fascism in post-war Britain, while also supporting struggles for Indian independence and later progressive causes in South Asia. Over the decades, the IWA became a vital part of Britain’s anti-racist and trade union movements, building alliances with other marginalized communities and advocating for equality, workers’ rights, and social justice.