Trade unions call for nationwide strike on February 12, expect 30 crore workers' participation

Trade unions on Monday said that the call for a nationwide general strike on February 12 is on and over 30 crore workers across the country are expected to join the protest.

A joint platform of 10 central trade unions gave a call for a nationwide strike on January 9, 2026 to show their ‘resistance to anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the central government’.

All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur told reporters that this time "not less than 30 crore workers will participate in the strike called on February 12 (Thursday). Last time on July 9, 2025, about 25 crore workers took part in the agitation.”

She said that the strike is expected to impact 600 districts across the country, up from about 550 districts last year.

Kaur added that the trade unions' claims of participation are based on the strong preparations done at the district and block levels, and farmers, as well as other federations, are with them.

She stated that Odisha and Assam would be completely shut down, and other states would also see an impact of the agitation.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha extended its full support for joining the protest and mobilisations on their demands, in support of trade unions' demands, according to a statement by the joint forum.

The joint forum includes INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU LPF and UTUC.

The joint front of agricultural workers' unions is also joining the strike, with their primary demand being the restoration of MNREGA.

Wide campaigns have been taken up in almost all the states in the country, in all sectors: government, public and private sector establishments, industrial areas, among the workers, farmers and common masses in rural and urban India, the PTI report said.

Students and youth groups have also joined in several places for such campaigns, and common citizens have been extending their support for the workers’ demands.

Strike notices have been served in most of the sectors/industries. The preparations are full-fledged, the statement read.

Their immediate demands include the removal of four labour codes and rules and the withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill and Electricity Amendment Bill. The trade unions are also demanding the restoration of MGNREGA and the scrapping of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025.