Over 25 crore workers - from sectors ranging from banking, insurance, postal services to coal mining - are expected to participate in a nationwide bandh on Wednesday, July 9, called by trade unions forum.
A forum of 10 central trade unions and their associates has called for a “Bharat Bandh” to oppose the “anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the government”, according to a report by The Indian Express.
“More than 25 crore workers are expected to take part in the strike. Farmers and rural workers will also join the protest across the country,” said Amarjeet Kaur from All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), PTI reported.
The trade unions have issued a call to “make the nationwide general strike a grand success,” citing months of intensive preparations across formal and informal sectors.
Apart from AITUC, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), HMS, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) and United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) are part of the forum.
What are the forum's demands?
At the heart of the unrest is a list of 17 demands submitted by the unions to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year. The unions claim the government has ignored these demands and failed to convene the annual labour conference for the past decade - a move they say reflects the government's apathy toward the labour force.
In a joint statement, the forum alleged that the government’s labour reforms, including the introduction of four new labour codes, are designed to erode workers' rights. These codes, unions argue, aim to dismantle collective bargaining, weaken union activities, increase working hours, and shield employers from accountability under labour laws.
Trade unions have been fighting against "privatisation of public sector enterprises and public services, policies of outsourcing, contractorisation and casualisation of workforce", it said, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
What's open, what's closed?
The strike is likely to disrupt key sectors including banking, insurance, postal services, coal mining, transport, and public sector industries. “Banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services will be affected,” said Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha.
Banking and insurance services, postal services, coal mining and factories, transport system, educational institutions (many schools and colleges), public sector enterprises are likely to be affected.
Essential services such as railways, markets and shops are likely not to be affected by the Bandh. Also, emergency and healthcare services will be open tomorrow.
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