Aljazeera: Millions of Indian workers strike for rights

Members of Left-wing parties have clashed with police during their protest in the southern city of Hyderabad

Millions of workers in India are staging a 24-hour strike to demand improved rights for employees and to protest over rising prices.

Tuesday’s strike, one of the biggest in recent times, is being backed by all 11 major trade unions in the country, including the left affiliated All India Trade Union Congress [AITUC] and Indian National Trade Union Congress [INTUC] linked to ruling Congress party, local television station NDTV said.

"One of the key demands of the strikers is to implement labour laws, a legislation that’s been passed decades ago but not been implemented," she said.

Hit by high interest rates, stubborn inflation and a stuttering reform agenda, India's economy is expected to grow by about seven per cent in the fiscal year ending March, compared with earlier expectations of about nine per cent growth.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2012/02/201222842550702681.html