In West Bengal, govt offices to remain open on March 28 and 29 despite call for bandh

Following central exchange unions’ call for a two-day nationwide strike on 28-29 March, the West Bengal authorities has said that all workplaces will remain open on these days and mandated employees to report for duty.

“In view of calls given by means of different trade unions and others for a forty eight hours’ nationwide strike/bandh on March 28 and 29, 2022, it has been determined that all state government workplaces consisting of these provided with Grants-in-Aid by the country authorities shall continue to be open and all the employees shall record for obligation on those days,” reads the Bengal government memorandum.

“It has been decided that no informal depart or any other leave for absence both in the first half of or in the second half or for the whole day shall be granted to any employee on the above-mentioned dates. It is further notified that the absence of personnel in those days will be treated as ‘dies-non’ and no profits will be admissible,” it in addition said.

Some of the essential services related to banking, transportation, railways and electrical energy are probably to be impacted in the course of the strike.

The strike notices have been given through workers’ unions of a range of sectors such as coal, steel, oil, telecom, postal, income tax, copper, banks and insurance.

Unions in railways and defence sector will lift out mass mobilization in support of the strike at numerous places, the joint discussion board said.

Trade unions, inclusive of INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC are part of the joint forum.

A joint forum of central alternate unions has given a name for a nationwide strike on 28 and 29 March, to protest towards government policies affecting workers, farmers, and people.