Contract workers at the Nacharam ESIC Hospital have warned of a ‘Chalo Praja Bhavan’ protest on Friday (January 23, 2026) if their pending salaries are not released as they have gone without pay for the past four months, said the All India Trade Union Congress.

Several workers said they were forced to continue working for months without receiving their monthly wages, which pushed their families into severe financial distress. They alleged that while officials and contractors extract work across all departments, salaries are routinely delayed or withheld.

The protest was announced by M. Narasimha, state deputy general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress on Wednesday (January 21, 2026). “Despite a formal notice submitted to the authorities on January 16 outlining the grievances of the contract workforce, no steps had been taken either by officials or by the contractors to clear the arrears. As a result, the workers have decided to stop work and go on strike on January 23. As part of the protest, they also plan to march to Praja Bhavan to place their demands before senior officials,” said Mr. Narasimha.

The contract workers pointed out disparities in wages, stating that while sanitation and security workers in government hospitals across the State are paid in accordance with GO 60, employees at Nacharam ESIC Hospital receive lower salaries. The workers highlighted that outsourced nursing staff in State-run government hospitals are paid ₹25,140, whereas their counterparts at the ESIC hospital receive only ₹22,750. They also alleged that benefits such as 35 casual leaves, which are due to outsourced employees, are not being implemented at the hospital.

Published – January 22, 2026 01:05 pm IST