BWI trade union affiliates across India, on 12 February 2026, joined a massive nationwide protest called by a joint forum of central trade unions and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. Dubbed as the “Bharat Bandh,” the protest was held across more than 600 districts, with an estimated participation of around 300 million workers and farmers.

A joint forum of ten central trade unions called the strike to protest so-called labour reforms, privatisation policies, trade agreements, and other measures they described as anti-worker and anti-farmer. Their key demands included scrapping the labour codes, withdrawing the Draft Seed Bill, the Electricity Amendment Bill and the SHANTI Act, and restoring and strengthening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

BWI affiliates from multiple states actively supported the strike, demonstrating strong unity between workers and farmers. They warned that if the government fails to initiate dialogue, the nationwide protests will intensify in the coming weeks.

BWI affiliates in Bihar (CLU & HKMP); Delhi (DANMU, DSEWU & DNMS); Himachal Pradesh (AHPWDIPHCWU); Odisha (INBCWWF, OKKS, BBCWU, OFMFPWU, OCMS, NES, NOBSM & NUGCMS); Kerala (KKNTC), Karnataka (KSCWCU), Punjab (BMS Punjab); Rajasthan (AHBWU), Tamil Nadu (TKTMS, TCTU & AIKTMS); Uttar Pradesh (BNKMU), and West Bengal (ERCCMU) States strongly participated in the Bharat Bandh.

Dr. R.C. Khuntia, President of INBCWWF and World Board Member of BWI, said: “Workers and farmers across India have sent a clear message: we will continue to stand united against the government’s anti-labour policies and defend workers’ rights until meaningful dialogue begins and labour codes are rolled back.”