Hundreds of thousands of Indian workers went on strike across the country on Wednesday, opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic reforms and partial privatization of state-run companies. The one-day industrial action, dubbed “Bharat Bandh” or “Shut Down India,” has disrupted public services, manufacturing, and transportation.
The strike was called by a coalition of 10 major trade unions representing laborers, farmers, and rural workers, who are demanding higher wages, halting privatization, withdrawal of new labor laws, and filling vacancies in the government sector. The protesters also want the government to increase the minimum purchase price for crops like wheat and rice.
The strike has had significant impact on public services, with banks, insurance companies, supermarkets, and shops shutting down. Some trains have come to a halt, while coal mining operations were halted in several states. In New Delhi, protesters carried placards demanding scrapping of labor laws and chanted slogans against the privatization of state-run banks.
The government has not formally commented on the strike, dismissing assertions made by unions. However, workers’ demands include higher wages, halting privatization, withdrawal of new labor laws, and filling vacancies in the government sector. The farmers’ groups also want to increase the minimum purchase price for crops like wheat and rice.
The strike poses fresh challenges for Modi’s efforts to attract foreign companies by easing labor laws. Unions say that the new labor laws promise workers higher statutory minimum wages, social security, and healthcare but want them scrapped. The police have detained around 30,000 protesting workers in Tamil Nadu.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/india-trade-union-strike-bharat-bandh-modi-22ca35310efee7a4eebb238782fdcb0f