Hundreds of sanitation workers employed under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission held a massive demonstration near the Chennai District Collectorate on May 20, demanding that the newly formed Vijay government immediately regularise their jobs and fulfil their long-pending demands. The protest was organised under the banner of Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam, affiliated to AICCTU-LTUC.
A workers’ delegation met Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G.S. Sameeran and Minister Aadhav Arjuna and placed the demands before them. The officials assured that the issues would be considered, but the workers made it clear that they will not accept empty assurances. If concrete orders are not issued soon, the movement will enter a sharper phase in June and July.
The workers said that Chennai’s cleanliness rests on their labour, but they continue to be denied job security, proper wages, safety equipment and dignity at work. Along with wage enhancement, they demanded the withdrawal of criminal cases filed against workers during their long struggle in 2025.
The workers also demanded that the TVK government must stop every attempt to privatise sanitation work. They warned that privatisation will further destroy job security, weaken workers’ rights, and hand over essential public services to contractors and private profiteers.
