A massive nationwide strike is set to unfold today, with more than 25 crore workers from key government sectors gearing up to protest against what they call the Centre’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate” policies.
The general strike, or 'Bharat Bandh', has been called by a joint platform of 10 central trade unions, with support from farmer organisations and rural worker groups. Major disruptions are expected across essential public services, including banking, postal operations, transport, and power supply.
What's likely to be affected:
Banking and insurance services
Postal operations
Coal mining and industrial production
State-run public transport
Government offices and public sector units
Farmer-led rallies in rural areas
What stays open
Schools and colleges
Private offices
Train services (though delays are possible)
"Farmers and rural workers will also join the protest across the country," Amarjeet Kaur of AITUC told news agency PTI. She added, "The government has ignored our 17-point demand list and hasn't even called the annual labour conference in the last 10 years."
The scale of the disruption is expected to be significant. “The Bharat Bandh will be disrupting services across the country. Banking, postal, coal mining, factories, state transport services will be affected due to the strike,” Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha was quoted as saying by PTI.
The Bengal Provincial Bank Employees Association, affiliated with the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), confirmed that both the banking and insurance sectors will participate in the strike. While there is no formal banking holiday today, services across branches and ATMs are likely to be hit.
Electricity supply may also be impacted. Over 27 lakh power sector workers are expected to join the strike, according to a PTI report.
Railways have not issued any official strike notice. However, possible disruptions or delays in train services may occur due to protests or logistical impacts.
The strike is not limited to just formal sector employees. Workers from the informal sector, self-employed groups like the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and rural communities will also participate. The protest has drawn support from farmers' platforms like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which was at the forefront of the historic farmers’ agitation against the now-repealed farm laws.
Public sector employees from key industries including NMDC Ltd, steel plants, and railway operations have also expressed solidarity.
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)
Support also comes from:
Farmers' groups like Samyukta Kisan Morcha
Rural worker unions
Public sector staff from Railways, NMDC Ltd, and steel industries
At the heart of the agitation is the trade unions’ opposition to the four new labour codes passed by Parliament.
The trade unions argue that the four new labour codes undermine workers' rights by making it more difficult to strike, increasing working hours, and shielding employers from penalties when they violate labour laws. Additionally, they are protesting the privatisation of public sector units, the outsourcing of jobs, and the use of contract workers, which they claim threaten job security and fair wages.
This isn’t the first time such large-scale action is being taken. Similar nationwide strikes in 2020, 2022, and 2024 saw millions of workers hit the streets in protest, demanding pro-labour policies and the rollback of contentious economic reforms.
