Vikas Kumar
Sri Vijaya Puram, 09 July 2025
In response to a nationwide call given by central trade unions and independent federations across various sectors, workers in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are set to participate in the All India General Strike on 9th July 2025. The strike is being organized to protest against what the trade unions describe as anti-worker policies of the central government. Crores of workers from both the organized and unorganized sectors across the country are expected to take part in this massive show of dissent.
In the islands, trade unions affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have planned mass dharnas, processions, and public meetings from Diglipur in the north to Great Nicobar in the south. At Sri Vijaya Puram, a major programme will be held at Tiranga Park in Aberdeen, where CITU, INTUC-Federation, and DMK Trade Unions will jointly organize a mass dharna and public meeting. Hundreds of workers from various sectors are expected to participate in the event.
The strike aims to draw attention to a wide range of national demands. These include scrapping the four Labour Codes, implementing a minimum monthly wage of ₹26,000 for all workers, restoring the Old Pension Scheme, rolling back the increased prices of petrol, diesel, and LPG, and taking effective steps to control inflation. The unions are also demanding an immediate halt to the privatization of government sectors, ensuring fair and remunerative prices for agricultural products, and the withdrawal of the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2022.
Other key issues being raised include the demand to stop attacks on the Constitution of India, end outsourcing and contractorisation in government departments, fill up all vacant posts, increase taxes on the rich and large corporations, and set up the 8th Central Pay Commission without further delay.
In addition to these national-level concerns, the participating trade unions will also highlight several local demands specific to the islands. These include the regularization of daily-rated and contract workers, granting one-third of pay plus benefits to all daily-rated mazdoors (DRMs), and strict implementation of existing labour laws in the union territory.
Trade union leaders have urged all workers in the islands to support the general strike and participate actively in the planned programmes to express solidarity with the national movement and to bring local issues to the forefront.
