More than 25 crore workers across India began a nationwide strike, known as ‘Bharat Bandh’, to protest against the central government’s economic and labour policies on July 9.

The strike is led by a coalition of 10 central trade unions along with farmer and rural worker organisations, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. According to organisers, the protest targets government policies they view as harmful to workers, farmers, and the poor.

Government Services Likely to Be Affected

Although the central government has not yet made an official statement, the strike is expected to disrupt key public services. Sectors like banking, transport, mining, steel, postal services, and government offices are likely to be impacted.

Union leaders claim the walkout will cause widespread interruptions, especially in states with large labour and farming populations.

Support From Farmers and Rural Workers

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and other rural labour groups are actively backing the protest. They have planned demonstrations in both villages and cities.

Organisers say they have spent months mobilising workers in both formal and informal sectors to ensure large-scale participation.

Trade Unions Submit Demand Charter

Earlier, the union forum submitted a 17-point charter to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. It includes demands for job creation, filling vacant government posts, and an urban employment guarantee scheme similar to MGNREGA.

The unions accused the government of ignoring their concerns. They criticised its failure to hold annual labour conferences for the past ten years and said its current policies hurt workers’ rights.

Focus on Jobs and MGNREGA Improvements

The forum said, “We are demanding from the government to address unemployment, recruitments against sanctioned posts, creation of more jobs, increase in days and remuneration of MGNREGA workers and enactment of similar legislation for urban areas.”

However, they claimed the government is focusing more on the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme, which they say benefits employers instead of workers.

Unions Oppose New Labour Codes

The unions strongly object to the four new labour codes passed by Parliament. They argue these changes weaken workers' rights, reduce collective bargaining power, increase working hours, and undermine job security.

Public Sector Hiring Faces Criticism

Union leaders also opposed the hiring of retired professionals instead of new employees in key public sectors like railways, NMDC Ltd, steel, and education. They believe this trend is blocking opportunities for young job seekers.

Resistance to Privatisation and Contract Hiring

Protesters are continuing their fight against the privatisation of public sector units. They are also demanding an end to contract-based hiring and outsourcing, which they say reduces employment security and benefits.

Youth Unemployment at the Core of the Protest

The protest comes amid high unemployment levels, especially among youth. With 65% of India’s population under the age of 35, joblessness is a growing concern—particularly for people between 20 and 25 years old.

To highlight this, rural worker unions and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha have promised active participation in rural demonstrations.

Bharat Bandh Follows Previous Mass Protests

This is not the first such protest. Similar nationwide strikes took place on February 16, 2023, November 26, 2020, and March 28–29, 2022. Each of those movements also focused on labour rights, public sector protection, and employment generation.