Millions of workers and government employees on Friday went on a day strike across India, to protest against government’s reform policies and demanding better pay.
Tapan Sen, General Secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, (CITU) said in New Delhi that thousands of banks, government offices and factories were closed in the strike called by 10 trade unions.
He said that essential services like public transport, power and water supply were not affected in major cities and towns.
Sen said that one of the main trade unions, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, with not less than 180 million workers, particularly in the banking, telecoms and mining sectors joined the strike.
The general secretary noted that the unions were protesting the government’s labour and investment policies and demanding increase in minimum wages.
“We oppose the pro-corporate changes in labour laws and recent decisions to ease norms for foreign investment in areas like insurance and defence.”
“The response to the strike is massive; at several places, the police tried to break demonstrations, but workers are coming out to join the protests,” he said.
Sen added that the unions also oppose the government plans to close state-run loss-making firms that employ large number of workers. (Xinhua/NAN)