Banking, transport and other services across the country are likely to be hit as trade unions have called a nationwide strike today, with nearly 25 crore people expected to join an all-India strike to protest against the government's "anti-people" policies.Ten central trade unions like INTUC HMS , CITU, AIUTUC SEWA , AICCTU, LPF, UTUC along with various sectoral independent federations and associations had resolved last September to go on strike on January 8th, 2020.According to the trade unions protesting against the government, these 'anti people' policies include the massive disinvestment of PSUs, privatisation of state-owned entities, the 100 per cent sale of Air India and some reform policies.Banking services across the country are likely to be hit.Bank employee associations, including AIBEA, All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh (BKSM), have expressed their willingness to participate in the strike.Banking services like deposit and withdrawal, cheque clearing and instrument issuance, as well as ATM withdrawals, are likely to be impacted by the strike. While the strike will hit public sector banks, private sector banks may not be impacted.Several banks have already informed the stock exchanges about the bandh. On January 3, the Indian Banks Association informed the State Bank of India about the strike.India's largest lender, the State Bank of India (SBI), however, expects only minimal impact due to the strike as only a few of its employees are part of the striking unions. Other major PSU lenders like the Bank of Baroda have already issued warning of work getting affected at both its branches and offices.Other than banking, transport and other key services are also likely to be disrupted in many states due to this nationwide strike call.In West Bengal, trade unions affiliated to Left and other parties called for a bandh against the economic policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre.However, the state government said it will not support any bandh.Among the foremost grievances of the trade unions is the proposed Industrial Relations Code. While the government has said the code will simplify old and complex labour norms, improve the business environment and spur jobs, unions have called the related bill “anti-worker” for allowing employers to hire and fire workers more easily, arguing that it has no safeguards for workers, makes it harder for workers to negotiate better terms and wages with employers, and makes strikes more difficult.The Industrial Relations Code Bill is part of wider government efforts to streamline and simplify the plethora of existing and overlapping labour laws by creating four labour codes – each on wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety, health and working conditions."The Ministry of Labour has failed to assure on any of the demands of workers which called a meeting on January 2, 2020. The attitude of the government is that of contempt towards labour as we construe from its policies and actions," the 10 CTUs said in a joint statement."We expect participation of not less than 25 crore of working people in the forthcoming National General Strike on January 8, 2020, to be followed by many more actions seeking reversal of the anti-worker, anti-people, anti-national policies of the Government," it said.The central government, meanwhile, has asked public sector undertakings to dissuade their employees from participating in the 'Bharat Bandh' called on Wednesday and advised them to prepare a contingency plan to ensure smooth functioning of the enterprises.Meanwhile, in Kerala, the trade unions exempted the state's tourism sector from Wednesdays general strike.Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society hailed as "exemplary" the decision by political parties and trade unions to exempt the state's tourism sector from Wednesdays general strike."Any employee going on strike in any form, including protest, would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action," said an office memorandum issued by the government."Suitable contingency plan may also be worked out to carry out the various functions of the ministry/department," it added.