Why is there a Bharat bandh tomorrow? Who will join the July 9 nationwide strike?
The workers are employed in sectors ranging from banking, insurance, highway and construction, postal to coal mining, according to news agency PTI.
"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," Amarjeet Kaur, a member of the All India Trade Union Congress, said.
The general strike or 'Bharat bandh' has been called by a forum of 10 central trade unions in the country and their associates. In a statement, the forum has urged the workers to make 'the nationwide general strike a grand success'.
Also Read | Bharat Band on July 9: Here's all the services that might get affected
The forum also said that unions in all formal and informal/ unorganised sectors had been undertaking preparations for the strike, as per PTI.
Why have trade unions called for Bharat bandh'?
The statement by the forum of trade unions said the general strike had been called in opposition to the 'anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies' of the central government.
The forum said it had last year submitted its demands, as part of a 17-point charter, to Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya. It further alleged that the government is taking actions which are not aligned with the interests of the workers, and was favouring employers while emphasising on 'ease of doing business', PTI reported.
The forum further said that the annual labour conference had not been conducted for a decade now, and accused the government of imposing four labour codes to weaken collective bargaining.
It claimed that the Centre's economic policies had led to increased unemployment, a rise in the prices of essential commodities, lowering wages and a cut in spending on the social sector.
The forum said it was demanding that the government address unemployment, create more jobs, and increase the remuneration provided to MGNREGA workers, among other demands.
'But the government is busy imposing the ELI (Employment Linked Incentive) scheme to incentivise employers instead,' the forum said in the statement.
With inputs from PTI
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Hindustan Times
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Although no official bank holiday has been announced, the participation of employees from these sectors is likely to cause disruptions in banking services across the country. No closures announced for educational institutions: There has been no official directive mandating the closure of schools or colleges in connection with the Bharat Bandh. Educational institutions are expected to operate as usual on Wednesday. Unless specific instructions are issued by local authorities or individual managements, schools and colleges across the country will likely remain open and function without interruption. Power supply may be affected: India's electricity supply may face disturbances on July 9 due to the participation of a large number of power sector employees in the nationwide strike. Over 27 lakh workers from this sector are expected to join the Bharat Bandh, which could result in outages or disruptions in various parts of the country. The extent of the impact may vary by region, depending on union strength and local arrangements made by electricity boards. Railways not on strike, but minor disruptions possible: While railway unions have not formally declared their involvement in the Bharat Bandh, there could still be indirect effects on train operations. Historically, such strikes have led to protestors staging demonstrations at or near railway stations and on tracks, especially in regions with a strong union presence. Although a complete railway shutdown is not anticipated, localised delays and heightened security at major transit points are likely. Kerala transport could see partial impact: Kerala Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar stated that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) would continue to operate its services on Wednesday, as no official strike notice had been received from the unions. 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It accused the administration of making decisions that go against the interests of workers, particularly by pushing for the implementation of four labour codes. According to the forum, these codes are intended "to weaken collective bargaining, to cripple unions' activities and to favour employers in the name of 'ease of doing business'." The statement further alleged that current economic policies are contributing to worsening unemployment, increasing the cost of essential goods, and reducing wages. It added that there have been cuts in government spending on key sectors such as education, healthcare, and civic services. These combined effects, the forum claimed, are deepening inequality and hardship among the poor, lower-income groups, and the middle class. In its sharp criticism of the government, the forum claimed: "The government has abandoned the welfare state status of the country and is working in the interest of foreign and Indian corporates, and this is evident from its vigorously pursued policies." The unions reiterated their opposition to the "privatisation of public sector enterprises and public services, policies of outsourcing, contractorisation and casualisation of workforce". They also voiced concern that the four labour codes passed by Parliament are designed "to suppress and cripple the trade union movement, increase working hours, snatch workers' right to collective bargaining, right to strike, and decriminalise violation of labour laws by employers." The forum stressed that their demands include urgent measures to tackle unemployment, fill sanctioned posts, generate new employment opportunities, and improve conditions for MGNREGA workers, including better pay and increased work days. 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