Trade union strike disrupts normal life in Kerala, transport services hit

The nationwide strike called by trade unions against the Centre's Labour Codes brought normal life to a standstill across Kerala on Thursday.

Though the state government declared a dies-non for government employees, attendance at offices was expected to remain low as transport vehicles remained off the roads.

The General Administration Department of the state government issued an order stating that unauthorised absence of an officer on account of the strike shall be treated as "dies-non".

The pay for the day on which the strike is taking place will be withheld from the salary if officials do not report for duty, the order said.

No leave would be granted to teachers and government employees except in cases of personal illness or illness of close relatives, examinations, maternity leave or other unavoidable reasons, the order added.

Apart from government offices, shops and businesses were also likely to remain closed due to the nationwide 24-hour strike.

Travellers were among the w