Nationwide Strike: 250 Million Workers Set to Disrupt Banking, Transport, and Key Sectors Across India

National News: India is bracing for one of the largest labor strikes in recent history as an estimated 25 crore (250 million) workers prepare to join a nationwide industrial action on Wednesday. The strike, spearheaded by a joint coalition of 10 central trade unions, is expected to hit major sectors such as banking, insurance, postal services, coal mining, and public transportation.

Why the Workers Are Striking

The call for the ‘Bharat Bandh’ comes amid growing discontent over the central government’s new labor reforms, increased privatization of public assets, and what unions describe as chronic disregard for workers’ concerns.

According to Amarjit Kaur, General Secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the strike has garnered support from not only industrial workers but also farming organizations and rural labor groups. “More than 250 million working people will participate, and demonstrations will take place across both cities and villages,” she said in a statement to PTI.

Despite submitting a 17-point demand charter to Union Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya last year, union leaders allege there has been no meaningful dialogue or action. They also highlight that India’s Annual Labor Conference has not been convened in over ten years—a symbolic indicator, they say, of the government's indifference.

What Will Be Affected?

The following sectors are expected to experience significant disruption during the strike:

• Banking operations, including many public and private sector banks
• Insurance and postal services, including mail delivery and processing
• Coal mining and factory output in core industrial belts
• State-run transport services in several regions
• However, the stock exchanges and bullion markets are expected to remain open.

Core Demands of the Unions

The unions have laid out a clear set of demands, which include

• Scrapping all four new labor codes introduced by the government
• A guaranteed minimum wage and universal social security for all workers
• An immediate halt to privatization of public sector enterprises
• Ending contractual hiring and outsourcing practices
• Policies aimed at permanent, stable employment
• Expansion of MGNREGA-style employment schemes to urban poor
• Strict enforcement of labor laws with penalties for non-compliance by employers

Concerns Over Erosion of Worker Rights

Union leaders argue that the new labor codes not only threaten the right to strike but also undermine collective bargaining and restrict union activity. They claim that the legal changes are crafted to empower corporations while weakening the negotiating power of labor groups.

Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha noted, “This strike is not just a protest—it’s a nationwide wake-up call to protect democratic labor rights and stop the dismantling of protections workers have fought for.”

Support From Farmers and Rural Mobilization

In a show of growing unity between labor and agriculture, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and several agricultural labor unions have thrown their support behind the strike. Massive rallies and marches are expected across rural districts, turning what began as a labor strike into a broader socio-economic movement.

Beginning of a sustained national labor movement

The upcoming Bharat Bandh is shaping up as more than just an industrial shutdown. It represents a collective outcry against policies that many believe favor corporate profits over public welfare. Without immediate intervention or negotiations from the government, this wave of unrest could become the beginning of a sustained national labor movement.