Jamshedpur Gears Up for July 9 Strike Over Labour Codes, Privatization

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, July 8: The nationwide workers’ strike, earlier postponed due to the unfortunate Pahalgam incident, has been rescheduled for July 9. The strike, led by the Joint Forum of Central Trade Unions, is in protest against the Centre’s pro-corporate labour reforms and increasing privatization.

The strike call was first issued on March 18, 2025, highlighting 17 key demands, with the primary demand being the repeal of the four controversial Labour Codes passed in Parliament in September 2020 through what trade unions call an “undemocratic process.” Though not yet implemented, various state governments are allegedly attempting to enforce these codes through backdoor methods under pressure from corporate lobbies.

According to leaders of the Kolhan region’s Joint Trade Union Forum, the four codes threaten to dismantle existing 29 labour laws and replace them with employer-friendly provisions. This would deny most workers basic rights like minimum wages, job security, overtime, bonus, social security and unionization.

“The government has ignored repeated requests for dialogue and has not convened the Indian Labour Conference in over a decade,” said union representatives including Rakeshwar Pandey, Parvinder Singh Sohal, Vijay Khan and others from INTUC, AITUC and CITU during a press meet.

On July 8, a torchlight rally will be taken out from Ambagan Ground to Birsa Chowk at 6:30 PM. The next day, July 9, striking workers and allied groups will hold protest demonstrations at workplaces and a massive rally from Aambagan Ground to Birsa Chowk at 11:30 AM. The strike has received support from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, students, youth, women and cultural groups.