Trade Unions, Bank Employees, and Government Staff Join Nationwide General Strike in Manipur

Manipur today witnessed widespread participation in the Nationwide General Strike called by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations, as trade union bodies, bank employees, and government staff joined hands in protest at various locations across the state.
In Imphal, a protest demonstration was staged at MG Avenue by members of several trade unions and bank employees, demanding immediate action on a range of socio-economic and labour-related issues. The protesters, carrying banners and placards, raised strong slogans in support of a comprehensive charter of demands. Among the key concerns highlighted were the restoration of peace and normalcy in Manipur, uninterrupted movement on national highways, and relief from the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and medicines.
Protesters demanded the declaration of ¹ 26,910 as the national minimum wage and ¹ 9,000 as minimum pension, along with the regularisation of casual and contractual workers. The call also included scrapping the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), as well as withdrawing anti-farmer laws and the recently enacted labour codes.
In a parallel demonstration in Jiribam, the local branch of the Manipur Government Services Federation (MGSF) extended its full support to the nationwide strike. Government employees, workers, and members of various organisations gathered in front of the Jiribam Higher Secondary School to express their solidarity. Speaking at the protest site, Ch. Direndra Singh, Advisor of MGSF Jiribam, stated that the strike was not only about national-level demands but also a reflection of the deteriorating working conditions in Manipur. He pointed out the urgency of restoring law and order and ensuring safe movement for civilians on highways, which have become increasingly unsafe due to prolonged conflict.
The charter of demands also called for measures to generate employment, the removal of GST on essential items such as agro-inputs, medicines, and machinery, and an increase in MGNREGA workdays to 200 days per year with a daily wage of ¹ 600. Protesters further urged the government to frame an Urban Employment Generation Act, strengthen public sector banks and insurance companies, and revoke the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, the Post Office Act 2023, and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2022.
The strike is supported by major trade unions and federations including AITUC, CITU, INTUC, TUCC, UTUC, HMS, AIUTUC, and AICCTU. The protest passed off peacefully across Manipur with strong appeals from demonstrators for the government to address their demands through policy changes and legislative reforms.
As the strike continues to gain nationwide traction, workers in both Imphal and Jiribam have expressed hope that their united voice will lead to tangible improvements in the lives of working people and restore dignity to labour across sectors.