Bharat Bandh today: A strike involving 25 crore workers expected to disrupt public services.

A large-scale national strike is scheduled for today, involving over 25 crore employees from essential government sectors preparing to demonstrate against what they describe as the Centre’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate” policies.

A joint platform of 10 central trade unions, along with support from farmer organizations and rural worker groups, has announced a general strike, or ‘Bharat Bandh’. Significant interruptions are anticipated in vital public services such as banking, postal services, transportation, and electricity 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, connected to the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), has stated that the banking and insurance sectors will join the strike. Even though there isn’t an official banking holiday today, services at branches and ATMs are expected to be affected. The electricity supply might also face disruptions. A PTI report indicates that over 27 lakh workers in the power sector are anticipated to participate in the strike.

The railways have not released any official notice about a strike. Nonetheless, potential interruptions or hold-ups in train services might arise from protests or logistical issues.

The strike encompasses more than just employees in the formal sector. Individuals from the informal sector, self-employed organizations such as the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and rural populations will also be involved. The demonstration has gained backing from farmers’ organizations such as the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which led the significant farmers’ movement against the recently revoked agricultural laws.

Employees in the public sector from essential industries such as NMDC Ltd, steel manufacturing, and railway services have shown their support as well.

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

Central to the unrest is the trade unions’ resistance to the four recently enacted labour codes by Parliament.

The trade unions contend that the four new labour codes diminish workers’ rights by complicating the process of striking, extending working hours, and protecting employers from penalties for breaching labour regulations. Furthermore, they are opposing the privatization of public sector enterprises, the outsourcing of employment, and the employment of contract workers, which they argue jeopardize job security and equitable pay.

This isn’t the first instance of such extensive measures being implemented. Comparable national strikes in 2020, 2022, and 2024 witnessed millions of employees take to the streets in demonstration, calling for labor-friendly policies and the reversal of controversial economic reforms.