Bharat Bandh: Find out what’s open & closed; Over 25 Crore Workers to go on Strike

Public services are likely to be hit on July 9, Wednesday, as crores of workers are expected to participate in a general strike.

A consortium of 10 central trade unions, led by AITUC and their allied organisations has called for a nationwide ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, to protest against the government’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies.” Organizers anticipate a massive participation of over 25 crore workers, with strong support from farmers and rural labourers across the country.

Not only this, workers from a wide array of sectors – ranging from banking, insurance, postal services to coal mining – are expected to take part in the Bharat Bandh. The Bandh has been organized by the trade unions, with an intent to make the nationwide general strike a grand success, with months of intensive preparations across formal and informal sectors.

The widespread action is likely to severely impact key public services and industries. “Banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services will be affected due to the strike,” added Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. At the heart of this civil activity is a consolidated charter of 17 demands submitted by the unions collectively to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in 2024. The unions claim the government has ignored these demands and failed to convene the annual labour conference for the past decade – a move that reflects the government’s ignorance towards the labour force.

In a joint statement, the trade union forum has alleged that the government’s revised labour reforms, along with the four new labour codes, have been designed to decay workers’ rights. These codes as per the union aim to dismantle collective bargaining, weaken union activities, increase the working hours and shield employers from accountability under labour laws.

The government has abandoned the welfare state status of the country and is working in the interest of foreign and Indian corporates, and it is so evident from its policies being pursued vigorously, the forum further added. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and joint front of the agricultural workers unions have extended support to this strike action and decided to make massive mobilizations in rural India as well.

In the past too, these trade unions had earlier observed similar nationwide strikes in November 2020, March 2022, and February 2024 too. The strike this time again is projected to significantly disrupt essential services, causing adversity and affecting the regular schedule on roads and for other citizens. Preparations are being made by the police officials to have sufficient preparedness to handle the situation and ensure it does not get out of control.

The united forum leading the strike includes a broad range of different unions: