Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 1 (IANS): Kerala will come to a standstill on Wednesday on account of the nation-wide strike called by central trade unions.

All unions, barring the BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, will take part in the strike.

The 24-hour shutdown will start on Tuesday midnight and end on Wednesday midnight.

In Kerala, there are 17 trade unions that will take part to protest the anti-labour, anti-people policies of the central government.

According to the Kerala chief minister's office, those government employees who do not report to work will be losing the day's salary as 'dies-non' (no-work, no-pay) has been declared.

"The police will be on high alert and tough action can be expected against those who take law into their hands," an official told IANS.

The Joint Action Council of Trade Unions, which is organising the protest in the state, has not exempted the IT industry from the strike.

The State Human Rights Commission has asked the state to ensure that citizens' rights are protected.

All examinations that were to be held on Wednesday have also been postponed by the various universities in the state.