The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Joint Farmers Front) and Central Trade Unions, Federations, and Associations have issued a nationwide call for massive mobilisation alongside the Industrial/Sectoral Strike and Grameen Bandh (Rural Shutdown) on 16th February 2024. This protest aims to oppose the anti-worker, anti-farmer, and anti-national policies of the Central Government.
Key demands include ensuring Minimum Support Price for all crops, guaranteed procurement, comprehensive loan waivers for small and middle farm households, and a minimum wage of INR 26,000/- (approximately USD 313) per month for workers. Additionally, there is a call to repeal the four Labour Codes, which are considered detrimental to workers, and to restore the Old Pension Scheme.
Moreover, there is a call to address religious fanaticism and jingoism and to prioritise the genuine livelihood issues of the people while upholding the fundamental principles of democracy, federalism, secularism, and socialism enshrined in the Constitution of India.
The call urges workers, farmers, agricultural workers, women, youth, students, teachers, advocates, civil society, and all sections of the population to join this collective action to resist and overcome the anti-people, anti-national authoritarian policies.
Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation - Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP), said:
“In countries where regressive laws that equally affect workers and other sectors were introduced, trade unions are able to successfully mobilise not only a strong constituency among workers but also a strong support from other sectors. Such is the case in India when workers, along with farmers, have organised a series of nationwide protests against the government’s anti-worker and anti-farmer policies. This is one of best examples of the potential of trade unions to appeal to the broader society and gain their support.”
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