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13th August 2025
We stand in solidarity with Chennai Sanitation Workers on Protest - in their fight against privatisation and for dignity
Fight against privatisation: Since the 1st of August Sanitation workers in Chennai have been protesting against the privatisation of solid waste management in zones 5 and 6 in Chennai.
Sanitation workers earn about Rs 23,000 per month under The National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) scheme. Under private contractors, they say this may drop to Rs 15,000. The contract with the private companies states that any employee above the age of 40 will not be hired as well.
Of the 15 zones under GCC (Greater Chennai Corporation), 10 are already currently managed by private companies. This is not the first time these protests have emerged.
Dignity of workers: A large number of workers are women who belong to oppressed castes.
The GCC for decades has been taking advantage of these communities by employing them for decades without giving them permanent jobs under The Tamil Nadu Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen) Act, 1981 which says 480 days has to become a permanent worker under any industry.
Many of these workers, and espcially in times like COVID and storms have been forced to clean the streets without any equipment and use their bare hands.
Despite the intimidation from the police, workers continue to protest in front of the Ripon Building, the headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) for dignity and human rights in their work.
Demands of the workers:
Demands of the workers:
Reinstatement of their jobs under NULM and permanent jobs to all workers.
No reduction in wages. There have been decades of protests to raise the minimum wage from Rs 350 to Rs 753 per day (which is the current salary of workers Rs 23,000) which will all be negated.
2,500 of workers, working in Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Tamil Nadu, are demanding an increase in monthly wage from Rs.1,500 to Rs. 5,000
Demand for paid weekly-offs and government holidays.
Sanitation workers who have crossed 60 years of age should be granted retirement benefits as announced by the Government.
Per Govt order 604, multi-purpose hospital workers were paid only for a maximum of 27 days per month. This should be revised to provide full monthly wages
Stop the privatisations of solid waste management work in the GCC areas and zones.
Since this statement was published we have conducted an action in Birmingham UK, A solidarity blockade with comrades from , Young Struggle, RCG/FRFI, Birmingham Queers for Palestine, Anti-Imperialist Front and various others. This direct action was in solidarity with the protracted workers struggles by sanitation workers in both Chennai (India) and Birmingham (Britain).
The union in Birmingham and the striking workers have recently been barred by the court from doing such blockades, hence this direct action to disrupt the scabbing was conducted by other organisations. This court order, and police being called to bust today's action, reveals the role of the state in conducting class warfare against the working peoples of the world.
Bin workers had recently been recognised as key workers during the pandemic and yet are now having to fight long, difficult battles for their dignity and rights.
Victory to the workers! From Brum to Chennai!
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