After a month long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi braving pollution and the cold, the United Nurses Association –National Capital Region (UNA-NCR) have decided to organise a march to the Delhi Secretariat on 10 December to press on with their demand for a raise in the minimum wages of nurses in the private sector. UNA has already led multiple delegations to the Delhi Government including Members of Parliament (MPs) but to no avail so far.

The month long agitation is in the context of several reports highlighting how the severe shortfall of health professionals in the country is affecting citizens’ access to quality healthcare. The 2018 NITI Aayog New Vision for India document highlights that ‘poor working conditions, especially in the private sector, in fueling the significant shortage of skilled nurses in the country’.

On 29th January 2016 the Supreme Court ruled that wages in the private healthcare sector should be at par or comparable to public facilities. The SC ruled that minimum wage of nurses in hospitals with less than 50 beds should be fixed at ₹20,000 per month.

On 24th July 2019, the High Court directed the Government of Delhi NCT to implement the Supreme Court recommendation in Delhi. Implementing this ruling will be a critical step towards improving working conditions in the sector as wage levels across facilities are inconsistent and low Yet, so far, no steps have been taken.

At least 1000 staff nurses from across the national capital are expected to join the march starting at 10 am from Raj Ghat to Delhi Secretariat demanding that the law be implemented in the interest of Delhi residents.

For more information, contact:
Jolding Francis, General Secretary, UNA NCR (98181 29194)