Nationwide General Strike From Tonight; Complete Shutdown in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala will witness a complete shutdown as part of the all-India strike called by central trade unions and employee federations to protest against the central government's new labour policies, which are widely seen as anti-worker and anti-farmer. The 24-hour strike, beginning at midnight on July 8 and ending at midnight on July 9, is being observed across various sectors, excluding essential services such as hospitals, ambulances, media houses, and milk distribution.
Seventeen core demands are being raised as part of this protest. The central concern remains the four new labour codes—Wage Code, Industrial Relations Code, Labour Security Code, and Social Security Code—which have replaced 29 existing labour laws. Trade unions allege that the new framework strips workers of key protections, dilutes safety norms, enables easier termination, expands contract employment, and limits the right to unionize and strike.
The strike has drawn participation from a wide range of groups—central and state government employees, teachers, public sector workers, motor vehicle employees, banking and insurance staff, traders, farmers, and agricultural labourers. It is jointly organized by several major trade unions including CITU, INTUC, AITUC, LPF, UTUC, HMS, SEWA, TUCI, NLC, TUCC, JLU, NLU, KTUCS, KTUC(M), INLC, NTUI, and HMKP. Though the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has opted out of the protest due to its proximity to the ruling party at the Centre, workers affected by the Centre’s policies are expected to participate across the country.
The Centre’s new labour codes are designed to disempower the working class by abolishing long-standing labour protections, suppressing the right to protest, and allowing arbitrary changes to employment terms, the protesting unions said. The new framework also made it harder for unions to register and operate, while provisions such as fixed-term contracts and changes to the definition of a "strike" have enabled easier classification of protests as illegal. Safety provisions have been weakened, especially for unorganised sector workers, and key social security schemes like EPF and ESI can now be amended unilaterally by authorities. The unions claim these measures open the door to widespread exploitation and undermine the very basis of democratic labour rights.
On Tuesday night, workers in Kerala will hold torchlight processions in multiple districts. A major rally with over 10,000 participants will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, starting from Museum Junction and ending in front of the Raj Bhavan, where a mass gathering will be addressed by CITU State General Secretary Elamaram Kareem. Similar demonstrations and public meetings will take place across district centres, especially in front of central government offices.
Bengal Sees Widespread Mobilisation

In West Bengal, intense campaigning is being carried out in support of the nationwide strike. Daily rallies, roadside meetings, wall posters, and distribution of leaflets have been reported from various parts of the state. Participation is not limited to traditional industrial hubs—rural regions have also seen active involvement. Tea plantation workers in Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, who have long been engaged in struggles over wages and living conditions, are joining the strike to reinforce their demands.
Students Extend Support to Workers' Movement

Left-leaning student organizations have also expressed solidarity with the all-India strike. Groups including the SFI, AISF, PSU, AISB, and AISA have issued a joint statement calling upon students across the country to support the protest. The student bodies argue that the fight to defend labour rights is also linked to the future of public education in India, which they claim is under increasing threat from corporate control. They stressed that workers’ support will be crucial in resisting the commodification of education and other public services.