AFP reports: Millions of Indian workers were expected to join a two-day nationwide strike starting Wednesday in protest against ‘anti-labour’ economic reforms introduced by the embattled Congress government. The government’s ‘big ticket’ reforms include opening retail, insurance and aviation sectors to wider foreign investment, hiking prices of subsidised diesel used by farmers and reducing the number of discounted cooking gas cylinders.
Cargo handling operations at some government-owned major ports were hit on Wednesday as workers joined the two-day strike called by central trade unions.
The worst affected was the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, the country’s largest container hub. All the three terminals at the port, including the two private terminals were idle with workers staying away, said a senior port official.
There are six vessels already berthed and they will have to idle till the workers resume duty, he said.
Port officials said there only 20 per cent of labour reported for duty.