Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a massive show of protest, nearly 25 crore (250 million) workers across India have called for a nationwide Bharat Bandh on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, to oppose the Central Government’s policies related to labour and agriculture. The strike, led by 10 central trade unions and their allied organisations, is expected to severely affect operations in banking, education, postal services, insurance, transport, coal mining, construction, and other public sectors.
The unions have raised objections to the implementation of four labour codes and have submitted a 17-point charter of demands to the government. They claim their concerns have remained unaddressed for years, and no concrete steps have been taken for resolution.
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), employee unions of NMDC, mineral and steel industries, public sector banks, insurance companies, and state government departments are among the major bodies participating. Additionally, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and several agricultural workers’ unions have extended their support to the strike.
Despite the strike’s massive scale, the Indian government maintains its doors are open for dialogue. It also stated that many of the policies being opposed have already been adopted by several state governments.
According to a PTI report, the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), along with the Bengal Provincial Bank Employees Association, confirmed that banking services will be impacted today due to worker participation in the strike. The insurance sector is also expected to be hit. However, no official bank holiday has been declared yet.
While the strike has received wide support, 20 major organizations have opted out of participation. These include Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), unions linked to Indian Oil Corporation, NTPC Steel, and several other key industrial entities.
