Chennai has been witnessing protests by sanitation workers demanding permanent jobs and fair wages, and their cause has recently gained support from singer and activist Chinmayi Sripada. The workers, primarily employed under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), are protesting the Greater Chennai Corporation's (GCC) decision to privatize solid waste management in several zones.

The core issue stems from the GCC's move to outsource solid waste management in Royapuram (Zone 5) and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar (Zone 6) to private agencies. This decision has sparked widespread concern among the sanitation workers, who fear significant pay cuts, job insecurity, and potential exploitation. The workers, many of whom are women and sole earners of their families, worry that privatization will reduce their monthly wages from approximately Rs 23,000 to Rs 16,000 after deductions for Provident Fund (PF) and Employees' State Insurance (ESI).

These protests have been ongoing for more than a week, with workers gathering in front of the Ripon Building, the headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation. The demonstrations have disrupted garbage collection in the affected areas, leading to the temporary deployment of workers from neighboring zones to manage the accumulating waste. Trade unions, including the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Left Trade Union Congress (LTUC), Labour Progressive Union (LPU), and Uzhayipor Urimai Iyakkam (Workers' Rights Movement), are leading the protests.

Chinmayi Sripada visited the protesting sanitation workers, offering them water and biscuits. She addressed the media, stating that her intention was to amplify their voices and support them, emphasizing that the workers are only asking for the jobs they were promised and deserve both the jobs and their salaries. She voiced her concern for the women who are protesting, many of whom are single mothers and the sole earners in their families, highlighting that permanent jobs would provide stability to their lives.

Despite multiple rounds of talks between the protesting workers and civic officials, including discussions with Minister PK Sekarbabu, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary D Karthikeyan, Mayor R Priya, and GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran, a resolution has yet to be reached. While the government has shared videos of cleanup operations in certain zones, the sanitation workers remain steadfast in their demands for permanent employment and pay parity.

HR&CE Minister P K Sekarbabu stated that the government did not promise to regularize the cleanliness workers in the 2021 election manifesto. He added that the government has instructed the contractor to absorb those aged 60 on compassionate grounds.

The situation remains tense, with workers continuing their protests. The workers' case for regularization is pending before the labor court in Chennai. Concerns have also been raised that private contractors may hire migrant workers at lower wages, potentially displacing local workers. GCC officials have stated that while the take-home pay may be lower under private contractors, the Cost To Company (CTC) including PF, ESIC, gratuity, and allowances will be higher than their current pay.