Millions strike in India over wages, economic reforms

Millions of public sector workers went on strike across India on Friday protesting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plans for greater privatization and a proposed minimum wage hike they say is inadequate.

Up to 150 million workers from sectors including nursing, banking, manufacturing and coal mining as well as hawkers and daily wage laborers are expected to take part in the 24-hour nationwide strike, organizers said.

Ten major unions called the strike after talks with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley broke down, with leaders rejecting his offer to raise the minimum wage for unskilled workers from $95 (6,396 rupees) per month to $136 (9,100 rupees).

“This strike is against the central government, this strike is for the cause of the working people,” Ramen Pandey of the Indian National Trade Union Congress said.

Creeping privatization

Workers are also demanding the government dump plans to shutter unproductive factories, raise foreign investment caps in some industries and sell off stakes in state-run companies -- over fears that creeping privatization will jeopardise jobs.

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions said workers were “demanding an end to the all-round attack launched by the government against their lives, livelihood and dignity” and that 150 million people were expected to lay down tools.

Unions are seeking the introduction of universal social security as well as an increase in the minimum wage to 18,000 rupees a month because of rising prices.

It was not possible to independently verify the number of workers on strike.

Banks, shops and schools shut down in several parts of the country including southern Karnataka and Kerala states where public transport stopped running, stranding commuters and travelers.

Television footage showed flag-waving protesters squatting on railway tracks in the states of Orissa and West Bengal, which has a long history of left-wing union activism.

India’s power minister Piyush Goyal said the strike would not have any impact on coal supplies as there is “no shortage of coal anywhere in the country”.

Modi won a landslide election victory in 2014, promising a string of business-friendly reforms to attract foreign investment and revive the economy.

According to the latest budget, the government aims to raise some $8.3 billion (560 billion rupees) through privatization in 2016-17 and shut down some state-run firms, after losses exceeded $4 billion in the last financial year.