After repeated rallies, the TVK-led State government reached an agreement with the workers recently by promising welfare measures and further negotiations. But the core demands — permanency and the ₹832 daily wage — are still to be resolved.
Who are the workers?
Under the NULM-SHG model, there are over 2,900 workers for conservancy duties in Royapuram (V), Thiru. Vi. Ka Nagar (VI and parts of Anna Nagar (VIII) Zones work — some working as sweepers, waste collectors and battery-operated vehicle drivers for over a decade.In 2017, there were 15,776 workers with GCC. This expanded and there are 21,436 workers currently — 3,628 are permanent, 415 are Nominal Muster Roll workers, 2,946 are NULM-SHG, and 14,447 are employed via two private agencies. Many have continued working amid from August 2025 in the these areas too, despite opposition. The GCC claimed its decision was taken because of 
Why did they oppose it?
Workers sought a ₹832 daily wage, permanency, and benefits. Permanency provides stable employment along with Employees’ State Insurance and Provident Fund benefits, and could also assure employment for their next generation with the government.Further, they wanted a physical attendance registration rather than biometric sign ins, which they claimed glitched often.
"Initial talks by Ministers and Mayor were welcome. What we need is job permanency and rolling back privatisation of conservancy work in three zones (Tondiarpet - IV, Royapuram - V and Thiru-Vi-Ka - VI) by Chennai Corporation," said Mohan of Left Trade Union Centre (LTUC) and… — R Aishwaryaa (@AishRavi64)
Chennai Enviro Solutions subsequently revised the offer in August 2025 to ₹761 a day, including ESI and Provident Fund contributions.
But, unions, including the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), affiliated with the Labour Trade Union Congress (LTUC) and the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), staged continuous protests through and Talks with the then GCC Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran failed, with workers .
Following Madras High Court orders restricting protest locations, to appoint a one-man commission headed by retired judge V. Parthiban to investigate alleged police excesses, it was later suspended pursuant to a petition by the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner to vacate it.
Meanwhile, GCC council passed another resolution in August 27, 2025, approving resolutions to appoint consulting firms as independent entities to monitor the privatisation of solid waste management in Royapuram and Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar zones.
Wage increase promised
The dispute continued through court proceedings and further negotiations, although the High Court refused to quash the GCC’s outsourcing resolutions on August 20, 2025. The standoff continued, with demonstrations organised at the May Day Park, Marina beach and beside Cooum river.Some in December 2025.
After 165 days of protesting, workers temporarily called off their strike on January 12, 2026, after then was led by UUI leader K. Bharathi, followed by a walk near the Secretariat to mark one year since the 2025 protest.
They also marked a year since their detention on August 13, 2026, and began with the workers and agreed on some measures including a ₹50 daily food allowance starting October 1, 2026, annual raincoats, two daily masks, safety gear, women’s restrooms/toilets, welfare-board registration, compassionate employment/compensation for deceased workers’ families, and 160 battery-operated vehicles across three zones.
Permanency, weekly holidays, maternity and menstrual leave, and the ₹832 wage remain unresolved. The next round of talks will be held on October 3, 2026.
