PGI contract workers warn of 24-hour strike on December 30 over pending arrears

Chandigarh: Contractual workers at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, have been on a chain hunger strike for the past 41 days, demanding the release of pending payments and other benefits. They have warned of a 24-hour strike on 30 December 2025 if the hospital administration fails to address their long-standing demands. 

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of contract workers at PGIMER announced that the chain hunger strike would continue until January 31, although the workers have been protesting since 14 November, 2025.

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The committee has claimed that arrears of around Rs 90 crore are pending after the government issued notifications for revised wages on October 9, 2018, and July 30, 2025.

In the two notifications, the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, in exercise of Section 32 of the Contract Labour Act, 1970, had ordered the PGIMER administration to ensure contract workers are paid equal to the lowest-paid regular workers, who are performing similar work and other equivalent facilities. The notification is applicable to the PGIMER contract workers falling in the services of sanitation, security, and catering, reports the Hindustan Times.

While the PGIMER administration has assured the workers that pending arrears will be cleared by January 31, 2026, the JAC stated that no communication has been received regarding other demands, such as bonuses, maternity leave, and the reinstatement of dismissed employees.

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