The nation-wide general strike called by the Join Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) on July 9 had limited impact on normal life in the city and the industrial area in Mysuru.
Bharat Bandh live updates – July 09, 2025
The objective of the strike was to draw attention to the ‘anti-worker’ policies of the State and the Central Government. One of the key demands put forward by the trade unions was abrogation of the four labour codes formulated by the Centre.
The 4 Labour Codes
- Code on Wages, 2019
- Industrial Relations Code, 2020
- Code on Social Security, 2020
- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020
The codes have been opposed by trade unions on the ground that they are inimical to their collective interest.
The trade unions have argued that the existing labour laws evolved out of decades of struggle while the labour codes formulated by the Centre have left the workers with no safeguards in addition to curtailing their bargaining powers.
In Mysuru, leaders of various trade unions and scores of activists from AIUTUC, CITU, and AIKMS, marched along the main thoroughfares of the city raising slogans against the government in Karnataka and at the Centre.
Jagadish Surya of CPI (M) said the objective of the strike was to send a strong message to the government and to States where the trade union organisations are powerful, and the impact has been strong.
Both the Centre and the State came under flak for weakening workers’ rights under the guise of ‘ease of doing business’.
The agitating trade union organisations sought minimum wages at the rate of ₹36,000 per month, an end to outsourcing labour, hiring workers on contract basis, as trainees and apprentices.
The government was urged to sanction pension at the rate of ₹9,000 per month for people employed in the unorganized sector as they had no job or social security.
A few of the demands relate to farmers and agriculture. Trade unions want the government of Karnataka to rescind amendments to various laws that had a bearing on agriculture and farming, such as Electricity Amendment Bill, 2022, which, the workers argue, is an attempt to pave the way for privatisation of the power sector.
The government was urged to comply with other demands of farmers, including minimum support price for agricultural produce based on the formula — comprehensive cost of production + 50% — proposed by M.S. Swaminathan Commission, withdrawal of amendments to a few laws, which have a bearing on agriculture, such as the Land Reforms Amendment Act, and APMC Amendment Act, by the government of Karnataka.
Lingaraju, president, Mysuru Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said the general strike did not have any impact on industrial production, as only the leaders and office-bearers took part.
Published – July 09, 2025 02:16 pm IST
