A joint platform of ten central trade unions—including AITUC, INTUC, CITU, HMS, TUCC, SEWA, AIUTUC, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC—has called for the strike.
A nationwide strike, also known as Bharat Bandh, has been called on Thursday, by over 10 central trade and farmers’ unions. The strike protests against labour reforms and other policies that unions say weaken workers’ rights and protections.
The bandh is likely to disrupt public sector banks, transport services, government offices, and some industries, particularly in states such as Kerala and Odisha, where union mobilisation is strong.
The strike has been called by a joint platform of ten central trade unions, including AITUC, INTUC, CITU, HMS, TUCC, SEWA, AIUTUC, AICCTU, LPF, and UTUC.
Union leaders say the bandh aims to press for stronger social security measures and protection of labour rights. They oppose the four new labour codes, arguing that these weaken workers’ rights, reduce job security, and make it easier for employers to hire and fire staff.
Other demands include scrapping the Draft Seed Bill, the Electricity Amendment Bill, and the SHANTI Act, restoring MGNREGA, and withdrawing the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, The Times of India reported.
Farmers’ Support
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has also extended its support, citing concerns over the India-US interim trade agreement. The group’s convenor Hannan Mollah said the deal would flood Indian markets with cheaper US imports, harming farmers’ livelihoods.
“SKM studied the Government’s Agreements with the US, EU and New Zealand. SKM has been against this since the beginning. Agreement is not beneficial for a weaker country. They will send their goods for free to our country and they will flood our markets with cheaper goods. Our country will not be able to compete with them and our farmers will be finished,” Mollah noted.
AITUC General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said around 30 crore workers are expected to join the strike across 600 districts, surpassing last year’s mobilisation of 25 crore workers.
