1,000 Tamil Nadu Nurses to be regularised, week-Long strike ends

Written By : Rumela De Sarkar Published On 2025-12-25T16:52:23+05:30 | Updated On 25 Dec 2025 4:53 PM IST

Tamil Nadu Government Clears Pending Promotions and Regularises Contract Nurses

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian announced that around 1,000 contract nurses will be regularised immediately, while the remaining nurses will be made permanent in phases, bringing an end to a nearly week-long strike by nurses working at government hospitals.

The decision was taken on the instructions of Chief Minister MK Stalin after a series of negotiations with nursing associations.

As per the news reports by PTI, the protest by nurses commenced with a hunger strike here on December 18, 2025. They were recruited by the government through the Medical Services Recruitment Board. Working on a consolidated pay on contract, their key demand is a permanent government job. Over 7,000 nurses have been demanding permanent employment, and a chunk of them are affiliated with the TN Nurses Empowerment Association.

Also Read:TN Nurses Association announces statewide protests demanding job regularisation

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Tamil Nadu Nurses Empowerment Association has announced a series of statewide protests beginning this month, demanding the regularisation to resolve issues related to job security, service benefits, and working conditions.

Discussions between the government and nurses’ representatives were held on December 19 and 22, followed by another round after their demands were presented to the Chief Minister. Based on these talks, the government agreed to clear pending promotions and create new posts to absorb contract nurses into permanent positions.

Highlighting the government’s record, Subramanian said that since the DMK government assumed office in 2021, as many as 4,825 contract nurses have been regularised. In 2024 alone, 1,693 nurses were granted permanent status. The minister also detailed other welfare measures extended to nurses, including promotions. Over the past four years, 1,998 nurses have been promoted to supervisor grade II, 465 to supervisor grade I, and 62 to tutor grade II, reports DT Next.

The government is also moving to extend paid maternity leave to contract nurses, aligning with the Central Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, through the National Health Mission, with a formal government order expected shortly.

Also Read:TN Nurses Protest Demanding Job Regularisation and Equal Pay

Further steps include issuing appointment orders for nurses recruited during the COVID-19 period and resolving pending issues related to the enhanced monthly remuneration, which was increased from Rs 14,000 to Rs 18,000 in May 2021.

nurses strikecontract nursejob regularisationMA Subramanianmk stalin

Rumela De Sarkar

With a keen interest in storytelling and a dedication to uncovering facts, Rumela De Sarkar joined Medical Dialogues as a Correspondent in 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of North Bengal. Rumela covers a wide range of healthcare topics, including medical news, policy updates, and developments related to doctors, hospitals, and medical education