The nationwide strike scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026, is expected to see participation from over 30 crore workers, according to trade unions.
On Monday, February 9, 2026, a joint platform of 10 trade unions, the major backers of the protest, confirmed that the strike will go on as scheduled. The purpose of the strike, as per the unions, is to oppose the “anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate” policies of the central government.
In the statement, the joint platform also confirmed the Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s support for the strike. The protesting farmers are in particular adamant about the restoration of the MGNREGA. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha called the strike a united front against privatisation, contractualisation, and proposed legislative changes affecting labour and agriculture.
The key demands of the overall February 12 strike include reversing the four proposed labour codes and the rules related to them. The strike is also meant for the withdrawal of the Draft Seed Bill, the Electricity Amendment Bill and the proposed Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act. The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, is another law the unions want repealed.
All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur expects participation in the February 12 strike to exceed that of the July 2025 protest, which saw about 25 crore workers. The strike, as per Kaur, will likely affect about 600 districts, an increase from July’s 550. She based these numbers on district- and block-level preparations and support from farmers’ groups and allied federations.
Kaur also claimed that the BJP-ruled states of Odisha and Assam might even see a complete shutdown, while several other states will face heavy disruption.
The unions have conducted campaigns across government departments and public and private sector establishments, involving industrial clusters and rural & urban areas. Many states are also likely to see participation from student and youth organisations, while various citizens have voiced their own support for the protest.
Apple growers from Himachal Pradesh are expected to join the protest and have announced plans for a march to Delhi. According to farmer unions, recent reductions in import duties under free trade agreements will likely severely impact Himachal Pradesh’s apple industry. They believe this will harm apple growers in the state, despite assurances from Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal that their interests will be safeguarded.
