Babli, a contractual sanitation worker, said they have not been getting the minimum wage of Rs 17,494 per month. “I got only Rs 2,600 despite working seven days. My husband got only Rs 14,000 despite working for the whole month,” she said.
Another worker, Kavita Jain, said she was paid Rs 14,000 for working the whole month. “I am the only earning member in my family of four. My husband does not work anymore. We have two children to look after. This is injustice, that we are not getting even the minimum wages properly,” she said, adding that other workers have not received even half their salary.

“Many employees sitting on strike have been getting irregular salaries… sometimes Rs 9,000 and sometimes Rs 10,000,” she added.

Hospital authorities, however, denied the claim. A senior official from the hospital said salaries have been disbursed. The administration, meanwhile, has hired new sanitation workers for the maintenance of the hospital on a per day basis.

Dr Ashish Goyal, medical director at the hospital, remained unavailable for comment.

According to Safai Kamgar Union member Mandvi Mishra, a delegation of workers Tuesday met the OSD to Delhi Labour Minister Raaj Kumar Anand and was assured of action in the next 24 hours. “It is unfortunate that despite meeting top officials at the Delhi CM’s office and Health Minister, there seems to be an administrative paralysis as workers’ issues remain unaddressed. If their demands are not met in the next 24 hours, then workers have resolved to tonsure their heads and perform ‘mundan’, symbolising that they have been abandoned by the Delhi government,” she added.

She also claimed supervisors are pressuring workers to call off the strike and apologise.

The Delhi government did not respond when asked for a comment.