Chennai Police Detain Hospital Workers Demanding Permanent Jobs

Police in Chennai detained hundreds of temporary hospital workers who were gathering for a hunger strike to demand permanent government jobs.

On Monday, 12 October 2026, police in Chennai detained nearly 500 multi-purpose hospital workers who gathered near Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore. The workers had planned a hunger strike to demand permanent jobs in government hospitals. Police said they stopped the protest because organisers had not received permission. Officers took the detained workers to community halls across the city. Many others could not even reach Chennai. Police stopped workers or placed them under house arrest in districts such as Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Salem, Pudukottai and Virudhunagar. The Multi-purpose Hospital Workers Development Association said police detained 339 workers across 20 districts. Organisers explained that they asked for protest permission ten days in advance, but the police rejected their request on 11 October. Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned the detentions and house arrests. He called the workers the backbone of medical services and accused the TVK government of breaking its pre-election promises. A nurses' association also criticised the police action against the protesting staff.

Why it matters

Multi-purpose hospital workers do vital everyday work in government hospitals. They clean wards, maintain basic sanitation and assist patients who need bedside care. The state government created this role in November 2012 by merging three older posts: sanitary workers, hospital staff and nursing assistants. The workers' association says more than 2,500 workers recruited in 2013 and 2014 through district health joint directors still work on temporary daily wages. Even after working for over a decade, they do not have permanent posts, job security or fair benefits. Their key demands include regularisation for those with five years' service, a proper wage hike, one day of paid monthly leave, all public holidays off and a fair transfer counselling system. These workers say the TVK government had explicitly promised to make their jobs permanent before coming to power. When essential healthcare workers face uncertain livelihoods and police detentions simply for demanding dignity, it raises serious questions about labour rights and working conditions in public healthcare.

Key facts

• Police detained around 500 workers in Chennai and placed others under house arrest in districts like Salem, Namakkal and Virudhunagar.

• The Multi-purpose Hospital Workers Development Association reported that 339 workers were detained across 20 districts before reaching the protest site.

• Over 2,500 workers hired on a temporary basis in 2013 and 2014 still earn daily wages in state-run hospitals.

• The workers are asking for permanent jobs after five years of service, higher wages, monthly paid leave and government holidays.

• Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said the workers submitted their demands just five days earlier and promised to examine them step-by-step.

What's next

Officials held a preliminary round of talks with worker representatives on Monday at the Directorate of Medical Services. Both sides agreed to meet for another round of discussions with government officials on 10 November. Health Minister K.G. Arunraj maintained that the administration needs time to address the grievances. He asked why the association launched a protest only five days after submitting their demands. However, the workers insist they gave adequate notice and need urgent relief after waiting years for permanent status. Will the government keep its word and secure their livelihoods, or will thousands of hospital staff remain on daily wages?