Sanitation workers of Madurai GRH protest over wage hike, job security

The Labour Liberation Front (LLF), a trade union affiliated with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), has demanded immediate fulfilment of eight key demands pertaining to over 1,000 sanitation workers employed at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for more than a decade.

It formally submitted a petition to the management of a private contract firm at the hospital on Tuesday.

Its district organising state deputy secretary S. Bhoominathan said the primary demands included immediate disbursement of a wage hike of ₹710, along with corresponding arrears, in strict accordance with the Collector’s wage revision order for 2026-2027 under the issued Government Order.

Additionally, the union insisted that deductions made toward Provident Fund and Employee State Insurance from the workers’ monthly salaries must be credited directly into their bank accounts every month without delay.

Addressing job security, Mr. Boominathan demanded that sanitation workers with over 10 years of service must not be terminated under any circumstances nor should replacement workers be brought in.

Further, all sanitation workers dismissed without committing any disciplinary infractions must be reinstated unconditionally and immediately.

The petition also outlined operational concerns, pressing the management to strictly enforce a seven-hour shift from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with mandatory overtime pay for any extended work hours. To safeguard the health and well-being of the personnel, essential safety gear, including gloves, boots, masks, sanitisers and soap, must be provided.

Other welfare measures sought included a retirement benefit equivalent to one month’s salary for workers retiring due to age as well as advance payment of ₹10,000 for Deepavali, to be recovered in easy monthly instalments of ₹1,000 over 10 months.

The union leaders urged the contracting firm to take swift and positive action on the pressing demands to ensure industrial harmony at the government hospital.