India braces for nationwide strike on July 9; over 250 mln workers join Bharat Bandh

India is preparing for a nationwide strike on Wednesday, July 9, as more than 250 million workers from both formal and informal sectors plan to participate in a Bharat Bandh called by a coalition of ten central trade unions.

The strike is expected to severely disrupt essential services such as banking, insurance, transport, electricity, and postal operations. Farmer groups and rural workers’ associations have also pledged their support.
The trade unions say the strike is a response to what they describe as the government’s anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies.

Their grievances include the implementation of four new labor codes, privatization of key public sector enterprises and essential services, outsourcing and contractualization of permanent jobs, erosion of union rights, and the absence of an Annual Labour Conference for over ten years.

Despite submitting a detailed 17-point charter of demands to the Union Labor Ministry, union leaders claim there has been no constructive engagement or dialogue with the government.

Major national trade unions, including AITUC, INTUC, CITU, and HMS, have confirmed their participation.

According to AITUC’s Amarjeet Kaur, the strike will see involvement from a wide cross-section of workers, including 2,700,000 electricity sector employees, bank and insurance workers, postal employees, public transport staff, and those employed in construction, mining, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Though no official holiday has been declared, public sector banks, insurance offices, postal services, and transport operations in several states are likely to be affected. In some regions, there may also be electricity supply disruptions and slowdowns in industrial output, especially in union-dense sectors like coal and heavy manufacturing.

However, schools, colleges, and private offices are expected to remain open, unless local authorities decide otherwise.

Emergency services will largely continue, though there may be delays due to transport-related disruptions. Some healthcare support staff may also participate in the protest in specific areas.

To maintain law and order, state governments and local administrations are preparing security measures, including the possible deployment of additional police forces. While the central government has not made any formal announcement, it is reportedly keeping a close watch on the situation.

The strike comes at a politically sensitive time, just ahead of key state assembly elections, and reflects mounting dissatisfaction among workers and farmers who feel their concerns have been consistently overlooked.