Bharat Bandh LIVE updates: Normal life affected in Kerala, Bengal, Assam

Bharat Bandh LIVE updates: Banking services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance are expected to be impacted due to the strike

11:04 AM

Ashok Chavan: Maharashtra government backs today's Bharat Bandh

Maharashtra PWD Minister Ashok Chavan: State government supports today's Bharat Bandh call of different trade unions, govt at the Centre is anti-labour

10:20 AM

The Modi-Shah Govt’s anti people, anti labour policies have created catastrophic unemployment: Rahul Gandhi

9:53 AM

Trade unions' strike hits road, rail traffic in parts of Bengal

Road and rail blockades were reported from several parts of West Bengal on Wednesday as trade union activists along with Left and Congress supporters picketed in support of the 24-hour general strike against the Centre's "anti-people" policies.

 

The strikers took out rallies in parts of the state and blocked roads and railway tracks in North 24 Parganas district. But police removed them to ensure movement of vehicles without hitch.

 

In Kolkata, government buses were plying normally but the number of private buses was less in the early hours. Metro services were normal in the city and auto-rickshaws and taxis were also seen on the roads.

 

Heavy police deployment was seen in several areas of the city, including in Tollygunge, Behala, Esplanade and Jadavpur.

9:48 AM

8:46 AM

Cheques worth Rs 25,000 crore not cleared due to Bank employees strike

Bank unions have claimed that cheques worth Rs 21,500 crore will not be cleared as the Bank employees decided to join the National General strike today.

8:39 AM

8:16 AM

West Bengal: Protesters block railway track in Howrah and Kanchrapara, North 24 Parganas

8:04 AM

Trade unions have a 13-point charter of demands

1. Urgent measures for containing price-rise through universalisation of public distribution system and banning speculative trade in commodity market.

 

2. Containing unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation.

 

3. Stop anti-worker codification of Labour Laws in the name of “Ease of Doing Business”. Ensure strict enforcement of all existing basic labour laws withoutany exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.

 

4. Universal social security coverage for all workers.

 

5. Minimum wages of not less than Rs 21,000/- per month with provisions of indexation.

 

6. Give “Worker” status to all Scheme workers as per the unanimous ILC recommendation and pay them wages and all benefits like the government employees.

 

7. Assured enhanced pension not less than Rs.6,000/- p.m. for the entire working population.

 

8. Stop disinvestment and strategic sale of Central/State PSUs. Stop merger of Public Sector Banks and strictly recover the NPA loans of the Corporates.

 

9. Stop of contracting out/outsourcing permanent perennial work and ensure payment of same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work.

 

10. Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund;

 

increase the quantum of gratuity.

 

11. Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days from the date of submitting application; and immediate ratification of ILO Conventions C 87 and C 98.

 

12. Stop FDI in Railways, Insurance, Coal and Defense Sectors.

 

13. Give complete loan waiver and Guarantee remunerative prices for agricultural products.

7:51 AM

Why labour unions have called for a nationwide strike today

The labour unions feel that the government is disrespectful towards workers in its “policy and action.”

7:41 AM

This is the fourth nationwide strike called by trade unions since 2014

This is the fourth nationwide strike called by 10 central trade unions since the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government came to power in 2014.