Latest news with #IndiaShutdown
India.com
09-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Bharat Bandh Today: 10 Trade Unions Strike – Understanding Their Key Demands, Labour Code Issues
A nationwide "Bharat Bandh" (India Shutdown) is underway today. Ten central trade unions and their allied organisations have called this strike. They are protesting against the government's alleged anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies. This has led to significant disruptions in essential services. Banking, postal services, coal mining, public transport, and government operations are likely to be impacted. There may also be delays in train services and interruptions in power supply. Union officials said that farmers and rural workers are joining the demonstrations across the country. They accused the government of ignoring their 17-point list of demands and not holding the annual labor conference for the past ten years. Concerns about the government's alleged misuse of constitutional institutions to criminalise public movements have been raised. They cite new public security bills in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Unions also claim there are attempts to take away citizens' rights. Here's a summary of the key demands and issues driving today's "Bharat Bandh": 17-Point Demands & Nationwide Strike: Trade unions submitted a 17-point list of demands to the central government, which they said has been overlooked. In response, around 250 million workers are participating in today's "Bharat Bandh." Objections To Four New Labour Codes: Unions strongly opposed the four new Labour Codes. They argued that these weaken the right to strike, increase working hours, protect employers from penalties, and limit the power of trade unions. They want these codes repealed, claiming they will weaken unions, extend working hours, promote contractual jobs, encourage privatisation, and ignore the need for more public sector hiring and salary increases while failing to tackle youth unemployment. Key Organisations Leading The Strike: Prominent central trade unions are leading the strike. These included the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), 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). They are supported by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and various rural labor organisations. Protest Against Government Policies: Unions claim that the government's policies weaken laborers, marginalize farmers, and mainly benefit corporations. They point to cuts in social sector spending, declining wages, and a worsening employment crisis as worsening conditions. Electricity Companies' Privatisation: Trade unions argued that privatising electricity distribution and production will threaten job security, wages, and stability for both workers and consumers. Migrant Workers' Rights: There are concerns about a special revision of voter lists in Bihar, with allegations that it aimed to restrict migrant workers' voting rights and infringe upon their political rights. Rising Unemployment And Inflation: The government is accused of halting new hiring, bringing back retired personnel, and failing to create jobs for young people. Meanwhile, prices of essential goods have risen significantly, leading to greater social inequality. Major Demands Outlined: Unions are calling for: Starting recruitment in the public sector. Stopping privatisation, outsourcing, and contract work. Repealing all four Labour Codes. Increasing wages and workdays under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Implementing a program for the urban unemployed. Boosting government spending on education, health, and the public distribution system (ration). Focus On Minimum Wage And Pension: A key demand is setting the minimum monthly wage at Rs 26,000 and reinstating the Old Pension Scheme. They also seek a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farm products and loan waivers for farmers. History Of Large-Scale Protests: This "Bharat Bandh" is not an isolated event. Similar nationwide strikes were held by trade unions on November 26, 2020, March 28-29, 2022, and February 16 last year. Millions of workers took part in these protests, calling for pro-labour policies and the withdrawal of controversial economic reforms.
&w=3840&q=100)
India.com
09-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Why Is India Shutting Down? Decoding Todays Bharat Bandh And Its Impact
A nationwide "Bharat Bandh" (India Shutdown) began on Wednesday. Over 250 million workers are expected to participate. This large strike was called by a coalition of 10 central trade unions, with support from farmer and rural labor organisations. The protest aimed to challenge the central government's alleged anti-labor, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies. The strike is likely to cause major disruptions in essential public services, such as banking, postal services, transportation, industrial production, and power supply. While some trade organizations claim the "Bharat Bandh" will not heavily disrupt daily life, the large scale of participation suggests otherwise. Services Affected: Banking and Insurance: Both sectors are participating, likely affecting branch operations and ATM services even though there is no formal bank holiday. Postal Services: There will likely be disruptions. Coal Mining and Industrial Production: Operations are expected to be impacted. State Transport Services: Public buses and other state-run transport may face significant disruptions. Government Offices and Public Sector Units (PSUs): Work in these areas could be disrupted. Rural Areas: Farmers' rallies and related activities are planned. Power Supply: Over 2.7 million electricity workers are expected to join, which may impact power distribution. What Remains Open: Schools and Colleges: They are generally expected to remain open. Private Offices: Most private sector businesses are likely to operate as usual. Train Services: There is no official strike notice from the railways, but delays or disruptions are expected. "Farmers and rural workers will also join this nationwide strike. The government has ignored our 17-point demands and has not even called a labor conference in the last 10 years," said Amarjeet Kaur of AITUC to news agency PTI. Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of Hind Mazdoor Sabha confirmed that "banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services will be affected by the strike." Broad-Based Protest Movement The protest goes beyond the formal sector. It includes informal sector workers, self-employed groups like the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), and various rural communities. Farmer groups, such as the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which led earlier agricultural law protests, have also shown support. Employees from public sector companies like Railways, NMDC Limited, and steel plants are also backing the strike. Key Participating Organisations Include: All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) Rural Labor Unions Employees from Railways, NMDC, and Steel Industry Reasons For The Strike: The main reason for the strike is the government's implementation of four new Labour Codes. Trade unions argue that these codes make it harder to strike, increase working hours, protect company owners from accountability, and threaten job security and fair wages. The protest also expresses strong opposition to privatization and the growing dependency on contract workers. Similar nationwide strikes demanding better labor policies took place in 2020, 2022, and 2024, with millions of workers taking to the streets.
