More than 25 crore workers across various sectors — including banking, insurance, postal services, coal mining, highways, and cons...
More than 25 crore workers across various sectors — including banking, insurance, postal services, coal mining, highways, and construction — are expected to participate in a nationwide general strike or 'Bharat Bandh' on Wednesday. The strike has been called by a joint forum of 10 central trade unions and their affiliates to protest what they describe as the government's “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate” policies. The unions allege that key decisions are being made without consulting the labour force, and that the government has failed to hold the annual Indian Labour Conference for the past decade.
The forum opposes the implementation of four new labour codes, which they say are aimed at weakening workers’ rights, suppressing trade unions, increasing working hours, removing protections for collective bargaining, and decriminalising employer violations of labour laws. Union leaders argue these measures undermine the country's welfare framework and favour large corporations — both Indian and foreign — at the cost of the working class and public sector integrity.
Demands include addressing unemployment, filling sanctioned government posts, increasing MGNREGA employment days and pay, and introducing similar legislation for urban workers. The unions also criticised recruitment policies that favour retired personnel over new job seekers, especially in sectors like railways, steel, and education — despite the country’s large youth population.
Support for the strike has come from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and agricultural worker unions, who plan to mobilise large numbers in rural areas. Sectors expected to be affected include transport, coal mining, government services, and postal operations. The strike follows earlier nationwide labour protests held on November 26, 2020, March 28–29, 2022, and February 16, 2023, indicating continued opposition to the government’s economic and labour-related decisions.
The forum opposes the implementation of four new labour codes, which they say are aimed at weakening workers’ rights, suppressing trade unions, increasing working hours, removing protections for collective bargaining, and decriminalising employer violations of labour laws. Union leaders argue these measures undermine the country's welfare framework and favour large corporations — both Indian and foreign — at the cost of the working class and public sector integrity.
Demands include addressing unemployment, filling sanctioned government posts, increasing MGNREGA employment days and pay, and introducing similar legislation for urban workers. The unions also criticised recruitment policies that favour retired personnel over new job seekers, especially in sectors like railways, steel, and education — despite the country’s large youth population.
Support for the strike has come from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and agricultural worker unions, who plan to mobilise large numbers in rural areas. Sectors expected to be affected include transport, coal mining, government services, and postal operations. The strike follows earlier nationwide labour protests held on November 26, 2020, March 28–29, 2022, and February 16, 2023, indicating continued opposition to the government’s economic and labour-related decisions.