Qwen
Key Highlights:
- A nationwide strike, or ‘Bharat Bandh’, is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, 2025 , with over 25 crore workers expected to participate.
- The strike is being organized by a joint platform of 10 central trade unions protesting against government policies they call pro-corporate and anti-worker.
- Sectors like banking, postal services, coal mining, transport, and factories may face disruptions.
- The unions have raised 17 key demands , including better wages, job security, and opposition to privatization.
- They oppose the new labour codes , claiming these weaken worker rights and make it harder to unionize or go on strike.
- Farmers and rural workers are also joining the protest, with support from groups like the Samyukta Kisan Morcha .
A massive nationwide general strike — being called ‘Bharat Bandh’ — is set to take place across India on July 9, 2025 (Wednesday) . Organized by a coalition of 10 major central trade unions , the strike is expected to see participation from more than 25 crore workers from both urban and rural areas.
The unions have accused the central government of pushing policies that favor big businesses while harming the interests of workers, farmers, and the general public . They say the government has ignored their long-standing demands and failed to hold the annual Labour Conference for over 10 years — a sign, they argue, of growing neglect toward labor welfare.
What Are the Key Demands?
The unions presented a list of 17 demands to the Labour Minister last year, including:
- A national minimum wage of at least ₹15,000 per month
- Job security and an end to contract-based hiring
- Opposition to privatization of public sector units
- Better social security and pension schemes for workers
- Revisions to controversial new labour laws (known as the four labour codes)
They claim these reforms are aimed at weakening workers’ rights, making it harder to unionize, increasing working hours without extra pay, and reducing employer accountability under the law.
Impact Expected Across Key Sectors
With millions of workers joining in, essential services and industries may be affected:
- Banking and insurance offices may remain closed or operate with limited staff
- Postal services could face delays
- Coal mines and factories might halt production
- State transport systems may see reduced operations
- Private companies in several sectors could experience work stoppages
Union leaders said preparations for the strike have been ongoing for months, with strong mobilization among both formal and informal sector workers. Farmers and agricultural laborers are also expected to join protests in large numbers, especially in rural areas.
Past Strikes & Rising Dissent
This will not be the first time workers have gone on nationwide strike in recent years. Major strikes were held earlier in:
- November 26, 2020
- March 28–29, 2022
- February 16, 2024
Each time, similar concerns were raised about labor rights and economic inequality. This time, unions say the response is even bigger, with more people from different sectors coming together in solidarity.
Speaking to news agency PTI, union leader Amarjeet Kaur said, “This movement reflects the anger of crores of workers who feel unheard. We are united in our demand for justice.”
Another leader, Harbhajan Singh Sidhu , warned that the strike would hit many sectors hard unless the government agrees to listen.
What’s Next?
The success of the strike will depend on how widely it’s observed across states and industries. While unions hope to send a strong message to the government, citizens are advised to prepare for possible disruptions in essential services on Wednesday.
So far, the government has not responded directly to the unions’ latest call for talks, but the pressure is expected to grow after the strike.
As the nation braces for one of the biggest worker-led protests in recent history, all eyes are on how the government responds to the rising voices of workers and farmers demanding change.
About The Author
Discover more from BBN.news
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
