Millions strike in India over �anti-labour� reforms

AFP, NEW DELHI: Millions of workers across India went on strike yesterday in protest at planned labour law reforms, the biggest show of strength by trade unions since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office.
They say labour reforms planned by Modi’s government will put jobs at risk, and are demanding it scrap changes that would make it easier to lay off workers and shut down unproductive factories.
All India Trade Union Congress secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said the response had been “magnificent” and estimated over 150 million workers participated in the strike, although this could not be independently confirmed.
The strike—the biggest in India for more than two years—included staff at state-run banks and mines as well as some factory, construction and transport workers.
“This strike is a reminder to the government that it must consult the millions of employees (affected) before changing the labour laws,” striking bank worker Amit Khanna told AFP in New Delhi.
Most cities remained peaceful, but clashes between police and activists broke out in the eastern state of West Bengal, which has a long history of left-wing union activism.
Television footage showed police baton-charge protesters in state capital Kolkata and drag away women strikers who had staged a sit-in, while protesters threw stones and smashed vehicles.
Nearly 200 people were arrested across the state, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Banks, shops and other businesses remained closed in the city, stranding commuters and travellers at the main station, while dozens of flag-waving protesters halted suburban trains.
In Delhi, long queues formed at bus stops early Wednesday, while passengers were stranded at airports as taxis and autorickshaws stayed off the streets.
Some protesters forced autorickshaw and taxi drivers off the roads and vandalised their vehicles.

 

Millions strike in India over �anti-labour� reforms

AFP, NEW DELHI: Millions of workers across India went on strike yesterday in protest at planned labour law reforms, the biggest show of strength by trade unions since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office. They say labour reforms planned by Modis government will put jobs at risk, and are demanding it scrap changes that would make it easier to lay off workers and shut down unproductive factories. All India Trade Union Congress secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said the response had been magnificent and estimated over 150 million workers participated in the strike, although this could not be independently confirmed. The strikethe biggest in India for more than two yearsincluded staff at state-run banks and mines as well as some factory, construction and transport workers. This strike is a reminder to the government that it must consult the millions of employees (affected) before changing the labour laws, striking bank worker Amit Khanna told AFP in New Delhi. Most cities remained peaceful, but clashes between police and activists broke out in the eastern state of West Bengal, which has a long history of left-wing union activism. Television footage showed police baton-charge protesters in state capital Kolkata and drag away women strikers who had staged a sit-in, while protesters threw stones and smashed vehicles. Nearly 200 people were arrested across the state, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Banks, shops and other businesses remained closed in the city, stranding commuters and travellers at the main station, while dozens of flag-waving protesters halted suburban trains. In Delhi, long queues formed at bus stops early Wednesday, while passengers were stranded at airports as taxis and autorickshaws stayed off the streets. Some protesters forced autorickshaw and taxi drivers off the roads and vandalised their vehicles.