Bharat Bandh: Banks, post offices, stock markets... 25 crore employees on strike; what will remain open and what will remain closed tomorrow?

Bharat Bandh More than 25 crore workers of the country are ready to go on a nationwide strike on Wednesday. Workers working in banking, insurance, postal services, and coal mines will be included in this.

The joint platform of 10 central trade unions has named it 'Bharat Bandh'. The unions say that the government ignored the demands of the workers and promoted corporate interests. Preparations for this strike have been going on for months.

Amarjit Kaur of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) told news agency PTI, "More than 25 crore workers will join this strike. Farmers and rural laborers will also protest across the country."

What will remain open and what will remain closed?

Banking services, postal services, insurance services will be affected during the union strike. Apart from this, government transport will also be affected. At the same time, the stock market will remain open, along with this the bullion market will also remain open.

What are the demands?

Last year, the unions submitted a charter of 17 demands to Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. They allege that the government did not pay any attention to these demands. The annual labor conference has not been held for the last decade. The unions consider this as evidence of the government's indifference towards workers.

Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of Hind Mazdoor Sabha said, "Banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services will be badly affected by this strike."

What allegations have the unions made against the government?

The unions say that the government's new labor codes are a conspiracy to take away the rights of workers. These four codes weaken collective bargaining and suppress union activities.

The Joint Forum says that the government is promoting the policies of privatization, outsourcing, contracting and temporary workers of public sector enterprises and services.

These policies weaken the rights of workers and make their future uncertain.

The unions say that the four new labor codes have been made to crush the trade union movement, take away the right to strike and suppress the voice of workers.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Joint Platform of Agricultural Workers Unions have extended full support to the strike. They have planned massive protests in rural India.

Along with this, there are allegations that these codes increase working hours and protect employers from violating labor laws. The unions claim that the government has given priority to the interests of foreign and Indian corporations, abandoning the country's status as a welfare state.