A strike is a temporary work stoppage organized by employees to express their dissatisfaction with their working conditions or to demand better terms of employment.

A lockout is a temporary or permanent closure of a workplace by an employer to prevent employees from working, usually as a response to a strike or other labor dispute.

Strikes and lockouts can be caused by a variety of factors, including disagreements over wages and benefits, unsafe working conditions, unfair labor practices, and other issues related to the employment relationship.

Strikes and lockouts can have a significant impact on both employees and employers. Employees may lose wages, while employers may lose production and damage their reputation.

The legal framework governing strikes and lockouts in India includes the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the Trade Unions Act, 1926, and the Factories Act, 1948.

The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 prohibits strikes and lockouts without prior notice, provides for a conciliation process to resolve labor disputes, and sets up labor courts to adjudicate labor disputes.

The Trade Unions Act, 1926 gives legal recognition to trade unions, protects the right of workers to form trade unions, and provides for the registration of trade unions.

The Factories Act, 1948 prohibits strikes and lockouts in essential services, provides for the establishment of works committees to resolve labor disputes, and sets up a grievance redressal mechanism for workers.

Some recent examples of strikes and lockouts in India include the 2020 strike by workers of the Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar, Haryana, the 2019 lockout by the management of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and the 2018 strike by workers of the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) in Telangana.

Some of the challenges in resolving strikes and lockouts in India include lack of effective communication between employers and employees, lack of trust between employers and trade unions, and political interference in labor disputes.

Some of the measures that can be taken to prevent strikes and lockouts in India include promoting collective bargaining between employers and trade unions, establishing effective grievance redressal mechanisms, and providing training to employers and employees on labor laws and industrial relations.

The role of the government in resolving strikes and lockouts in India includes facilitating negotiations between employers and employees, providing conciliation services, and adjudicating labor disputes.

Some of the international conventions and standards related to strikes and lockouts include the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, the ILO Convention 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, and the ILO Convention 154 on the Promotion of Collective Bargaining.

Strikes and lockouts can have a negative impact on the economy by leading to a decline in production and economic growth, increasing unemployment, and damaging the reputation of the company involved.