Bharat Bandh: Banking, transport services to hit on January 8

New Delhi : Beginning from 6 am on Wednesday (January 8), a 24-hour-long nationwide strike has been called by the trade unions. It is likely to hit the banking and transport services.

It is expected that around 25 crore workers will take part in the protest that has been called by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) to protest against what they call "anti-labour policies" of the central government.

They are protesting with the demands of fixing a minimum wage and equal wage for equal work. CITU also mentioned that the nine other unions are taking part in the strike across the nation. The other trade unions are Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self, Employed Women's Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), United Trade Union Congress (UTUC).

The BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh is not participating in the strike.

On Tuesday, the government warned the trade unions of "consequences" if they joined the strike. "Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action," an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel read.

Quoting a Supreme Court ruling, the order urged government officers "not to sanction casual leave asked for by employees during the period of the proposed strike" and called on the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to keep vigil.