Mumbai outsourced health workers end Azad Maidan protest after Mayor Ritu Tawde intervenes

Outsourced health workers employed under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) in Mumbai ended their agitation on Thursday evening. The workers are hired through the contractor DS Enterprises. The decision followed the intervention of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde.

The workers had been on a sit-in at Azad Maidan since August 31, 2026, with several demands pending. On Thursday, a delegation of the agitating workers met Tawde in the mayor's office at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters. The delegation also handed over a letter announcing the withdrawal of the agitation.

Earlier, Tawde had herself gone to the protest site, where she spoke to the workers and heard their grievances. She then directed the civic administration to take positive steps on the demands.

The steps taken by the administration include approval of 180 days of paid maternity leave for outsourced women employees. The decision was taken keeping in mind women's maternity-related responsibilities and financial security. It had been announced earlier.

A proposal for a revised minimum wage for outsourced workers has been sent to the chief labour officer and the finance department for consideration. On complaints of delayed wages, the BMC has also taken punitive action against the contractor.

A special grievance redressal committee will be formed to find a lasting solution to such problems. The administration has confirmed that the workers have been paid their wages up to September 2026.

The workers also wanted experienced health staff who served the people of Mumbai during the Covid-19 pandemic to be absorbed into government service under a one-time policy. They had also demanded a Diwali ex gratia payment or bonus. The BMC has written to the Maharashtra government on these demands, making clear that they are policy decisions at the state government level.

The delegation expressed satisfaction with the mayor's intervention and the civic administration's steps. Its members thanked the mayor and BMC officials and formally confirmed the withdrawal of the agitation.

The delegation included Santosh Kadam, youth president of the Swarajya organisation, secretary Rahul Patil, and Girish Surve, Paresh Metkar, Deepak Chavan, Praveen Chavan, Pankaj Dhadve, Harshada Dumbre, Pratiksha Bhagwat, Reshma Kochale and Suman Shigwan.