Ten trade unions have called for a nation-wide strike today. The 24-hour strike began from midnight. However, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU) and some other organisations are not participating in it.<br/><br/>Trade Unions gave call for strike after two round of talks between trade unions and the government failed last month over a 12-points Charter of Demands. The demands include withdrawal of proposed what they call anti-worker amendments in labour laws and stopping the disinvestments and privatisation of PSUs.<br/><br/>Kerala government has issued no work no pay order against striking employees. District Collectors and Department Heads have been directed to provide necessary protection to employees, who are not participating in the strike. Recruitment tests by Kerala Public Service Commission and university examinations scheduled for today in the state have been postponed.<br/><br/>AIR Shimla correspondent reports that most of the Buses run by Himachal Road Transport Corporation are off the roads since midnight.<br/><br/>West Bengal government has decided to keep all its offices open today. AIR Kolkata correspondent reports that train services in Howrah and Sialdah divisions of Eastern and South East Railway have been disrupted due to blockade of Rail tracks by bandh supporters. State government has also decided not to grant leave to any employee today and invoke no pay no work.<br/>Meanwhile, Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has appealed to the trade unions to reconsider their call to strike in the interest of workers and the nation. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi Tuesday evening, Mr Dattatreya said, most of the demands which have been raised by the trade unions are agreeable by the government while demands on FDI in Railway, Disinvestment of PSUs and Contract Workers are still under consideration.