Chennai, Feb. 5: On February 3, 2026, the Tamil Nadu government discussed with and unofficially assured the Multipurpose Government Hospital Staff Association, a salary hike, effective upon the issuance of a Government Order (G.O.).
This follows the 15-day-long protest held by staff, seeking permanent postings and salary revisions.
“As the G.O. is expected to take at least two days to process, the staff have postponed their protest for four days. Additionally, the government pledged to fulfill three further demands: a 31-day salary month, the provision of uniforms, and coverage for accident or death benefits, all of which remain contingent on the formal passing of the G.O.,” stated K. Ganesan, President, Multipurpose Government Hospital Staff Association.
Nearly 1,000 multipurpose government hospital workers have been protesting for permanent status since January 20, 2026. The workers fulfill five different roles, including cleaning, compounding, and sanitation. Despite being recruited through a formal process, they have remained on contract and daily-wage status for 13 years with the promise of future permanence. Their daily pay ranges from ₹650 to ₹750, depending on the district.
The protesters have gathered from 38 districts across Tamil Nadu, including Madurai, Krishnagiri, Dindigul, Kanchipuram, Trichy, Nagapattinam, and Pudukottai.
However, the 15-day protest did not take place in a single location. Instead, protesters were moved to different sites each day and granted limited time—often just 30 minutes to an hour, typically from 10:00am to 10:30am or 11:00am—following which, they were detained in halls and released by 7:00pm.
Several workers travelled from across Tamil Nadu and struggled to find affordable accommodation, due to which they often spent nights on the floors of the Egmore or Chennai Central railway stations.
“Using approximately 12 buses, they shifted us to various nearby marriage halls. Some of us are at the Arunattu Vellalar Sangam in George Town, Chennai, and I have been detained in one of the halls in Washermenpet,” said Shyamala Palani, a protestor from Kanchipuram.
They were paid for only 26 days a month, as their weekly days off were unpaid. Despite this, they were frequently called in on those days due to emergencies or staff shortages, receiving no additional compensation.
“During COVID-19, we handled everything from blood donations to transporting units to wards. We still do that today. Even as women, we unload heavy boxes from vehicles ourselves because there are so few workers. From pharmacy assistance to cleaning and mopping, we do it all. Yet, we are not offered the most fundamental facilities,” Shyamala added.
Additionally, Ganesan stated that while the association awaits the process of the legal order, protests are likely to resume if the government fails to pass the G.O. in the stipulated time.