Overview
- The Joint Platform of 10 central trade unions and sectoral federations announced a one-day general strike on February 12, 2026, with a National Workers’ Convention on January 9 in New Delhi set to ratify the call and finalise plans.
- The unions oppose the newly notified labour codes, alleging curbs on the right to strike, easier de‑recognition of unions, weakened conciliation and adjudication, and expanded powers for registrars to de‑register unions.
- The SHANTI Act is criticised for opening nuclear power to private and foreign players and for clauses the unions say withdraw supplier liability in the event of accidents or disasters.
- The VB‑GRAMG law is denounced as replacing the rights‑based MGNREGA, shifting fiscal burdens to states, and suspending work during harvest season, which unions argue undercuts rural workers.
- Support has come from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the electricity employees’ federation, with CTUs warning of escalation to multi‑day general strikes if the codes stand; preparatory protests include December 23 actions and sectoral meetings through January.