Bharat Bandh 9 July 2025: Over 25 Crore Workers Join Nationwide Strike

Bharat Bandh on 9 July 2025: Over 25 crore workers from banking, coal, postal, and transport sectors join the strike. Learn about the reasons, demands, impact on services, and sectors affected across India.

Table of Contents

On 9 July 2025, India is witnessing a massive nationwide general strike—commonly referred to as Bharat Bandh—organized by a coalition of 10 central trade unions and supported by farmers’ unions and rural workers’ organizations. With an estimated 25 crore (250 million) workers participating, this strike is one of the largest collective actions in recent history, targeting the Central Government’s labour, economic, and employment policies.

Why is Bharat Bandh Being Observed?

According to the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and other federations, the strike has been called to protest against:

The introduction of four new labour codes that allegedly:
- Curtail collective bargaining rights
- Restrict union activities
- Extend working hours
- Decriminalize labour law violations
Privatisation of public sector undertakings (PSUs)
Outsourcing and casualisation of the workforce
Lack of job creation and rising unemployment
Inflation and increasing price rise of essential commodities
Failure to hold the Indian Labour Conference for over a decade
Reduced government spending on education, healthcare, and welfare schemes

The unions argue that these policies serve the interest of large corporates—both foreign and Indian—at the expense of ordinary workers and farmers.

Bharat Bandh: What’s Affected on July 9?

The Bharat Bandh is disrupting major public services, especially in urban areas and industrial hubs. Here’s what’s being affected:

Services Likely to Be Closed or Disrupted:

Sector	Impact Level	Details
Banking	High	PSU banks closed, ATMs may run dry, cheque clearances delayed
Postal Services	High	Post offices closed, parcel and mail delivery affected
Coal Mining	High	Coal production halted in major coal belts like Jharkhand
Factories & Industries	Moderate to High	Strikes in industrial units, manufacturing slowdown expected
State Transport	High	Public bus services disrupted in states like Kerala, Bengal
Construction & Highway Work	High	Major projects stalled due to lack of workforce
Railway Services	Moderate	No official strike, but blockades and disruptions possible
Government Departments	Moderate to High	Attendance down, some offices non-functional

Who Is Organising the Bharat Bandh?

The strike has been called by a coalition of major trade unions, including:

AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress)
CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions)
INTUC (Indian National Trade Union Congress)
HMS (Hind Mazdoor Sabha)
AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, and others

Supporting organizations include:

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) – Farmers’ collective
Various agricultural workers’ unions
Youth and student organisations
Political parties such as Congress (Rahul Gandhi to join Bihar bandh)

Key Demands of Bharat Bandh 2025

The protesting unions have submitted a 17-point charter of demands which includes:

Scrapping of the four labour codes
Reversal of privatisation of PSUs and public services
Job security and regular appointments in government departments
Increase in minimum wages and pensions
Universal public distribution system and food security
Rollback of policies promoting contractualisation and outsourcing
Revival of the Indian Labour Conference, not held for 10 years
Protection of trade union rights and the right to strike
Control inflation and reduce prices of essential commodities
Increase social sector spending in health, education, and welfare

What Services Will Be Affected on July 9?

A wide range of essential and public services will be severely impacted:

Disrupted or Closed:

Banking and Insurance Services – Including LIC and public sector banks
Postal Services – Delivery, mail operations likely halted
Coal Mining & Industrial Units – Shutdown of production in key mines
State Transport Services – Buses, depots, and staff on strike
Public Sector Units – Including power, steel, NMDC, and rail maintenance
Highway Construction – Labourers to halt work in protest
Train Services – Indirect disruptions due to protests and blockades

What Will Remain Open?

Likely Operational:

Schools and Colleges – No closure orders issued
Private Sector Offices – May remain open depending on location
Hospitals and Emergency Services – Expected to function
Shops and Markets – Open in non-participating regions
Indian Railways – No official railway strike, but disruptions possible

Why the Massive Response?

Union leaders argue that the labour codes weaken:

Collective bargaining rights
Workers’ right to strike
Trade union activities
Accountability of employers for labour law violations

The policies, they claim, are pushing India toward corporate exploitation, increasing joblessness, and hurting the working-class and farmers. The union forum accused the government of replacing youth with retired staff in sectors like Railways, teaching, and mining, ignoring the country’s large pool of unemployed youth aged 20–25.

Background: Previous Strikes

This is not the first mass strike. Similar Bharat Bandh protests were held on:

November 26, 2020
March 28–29, 2022
February 16, 2024

Yet, union leaders claim the government has not addressed any of the key issues, forcing this fresh agitation.

Bharat Bandh 2025 and Its Significance

The Bharat Bandh on July 9, 2025, is not just a labour strike—it’s a mass movement of farmers, workers, and the unemployed against structural changes in labour laws and governance. It reflects growing frustration among India’s working class over lack of dialogue, economic distress, rising prices, and youth unemployment.

Conclusion

As India witnesses one of its largest worker-led protests in recent years, the Bharat Bandh on July 9, 2025, will be a crucial event in the country’s political and economic narrative. All eyes will be on how the government responds to this mass mobilisation and whether it opens the door for labour policy dialogue or continues its current path of reforms.