July 9 General Strike: What do India’s workers want?

India’s ten central trade unions – barring the Sangh-affiliated Bharatiy Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) came together to call for a general strike in July 9. Workers from banking, insurance, postal, mining, construction, and transportation sectors have pledged their support to the strike and are expected to participate in big numbers. 

According to the Union spokespersons, the strike is in protest against the government’s anti-worker policies and specifically also against the amendments to the 29 labour laws and the newly introduced labour codes. 

But these amendments and labour codes happened quite some time ago. Why is the strike being called now? What exactly are the demands of the unions? And what is likely to be its impact? 

Guest: A.M. Jigeesh from The Hindu’s Delhi Bureau.

Host: G Sampath

Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston

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