Nationwide Strike: Over 25 Crore Workers to Protest Centre’s ‘Anti-Worker, Pro-Corporate’ Policies

More than 25 crore workers across India are expected to participate in a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, in what trade unions have dubbed a ‘Bharat Bandh’. The strike has been called by a joint platform of 10 central trade unions in protest against what they describe as the central government’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate” policies.

The strike is expected to cause widespread disruption across critical sectors including banking, insurance, postal services, coal mining, manufacturing, and state-run transport services.

“Months of preparation have gone into this. Workers from both formal and informal sectors, along with farmers and rural labourers, will join the protest,” said Amarjeet Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

Charter of Demands Ignored, Say Unions

At the core of the agitation is a 17-point charter of demands submitted to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year. Trade unions claim the government has failed to respond and has not convened the annual labour conference for nearly a decade, a move seen by unions as a sign of neglect toward the working class.

“This strike is the culmination of growing anger among workers and farmers who feel abandoned,” said Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha.

Labour Reforms Under Fire

A key point of contention is the government’s four new labour codes, which unions argue are designed to dismantle worker protections. The joint union statement alleges these codes seek to:

• Undermine collective bargaining

• Restrict union activities

• Extend working hours

• Decriminalise violations of labour laws by employers

“These codes are a direct assault on labour rights. They aim to cripple the trade union movement and serve corporate interests,” the unions said in a joint statement.

The unions also slammed the government’s push for privatisation, outsourcing, and the casualisation of the workforce, accusing it of abandoning the welfare state model in favour of big businesses.

Farmers Back the Strike

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and a joint front of agricultural workers’ unions have extended support to the strike, announcing plans for mass mobilisations in rural areas.

This is not the first such protest. Similar nationwide strikes were held on November 26, 2020, March 28–29, 2022, and February 16, 2023, underscoring the persistent discontent among labour and farmer groups over the government’s policy direction.

With lakhs of workers and farmers poised to hit the streets, the strike marks one of the largest coordinated labour actions in recent years — a flashpoint in the ongoing standoff between organised labour and the Modi government.