Why nurses in Kerala’s private hospitals went on strike | Explained

ICU and emergency care services in some major private hospitals in Kerala were disrupted between March 9 and March 13 after nurses, led by the United Nurses Association (UNA), launched an indefinite strike demanding a hike in their salaries and other benefits. The agitation was temporarily withdrawn following the direction of the Kerala High Court.

Why did nurses go on strike?

Strenuous working conditions and inadequate pay packages are among the concerns raised by nurses in private hospitals in Kerala for years. A change occurred in 2012 when many nurses joined hands for fair wages and a decent working environment. UNA, founded by M. Jasminsha, was at the forefront of these protests. Although managements’ “oppressive” actions were widely reported, nurses in most private hospitals came together to collectively bargain for their rights. The government intervened, expert committees were formed and fees were revised in 2013 and then again in 2018.

The UNA is now demanding a new wage revision, citing the rise in the cost of living and salary inequalities, among other things. They claim public hospital nurses receive around £60,000 a month, including basic salary and allowances, while nurses in private hospitals receive less than £20,000 for the same work. They also want better staffing to reduce workload, a better patient-caregiver ratio, and an end to arbitrary dismissals allegedly against those participating in union work. According to UNA members, up to 30% of nursing staff in large private hospitals are appointed on a ‘local’ (temporary) basis and do not enjoy any social benefits, not even daily leave or sick leave, let alone other benefits.

How did today’s turmoil begin?

UNA first carried out a symbolic strike on February 21 in over 400 private hospitals in various districts, demanding revision of their basic monthly wages to at least ₹40,000. They went on strike again on March 4. Then only a third of the nursing staff worked in various departments of hospitals. UNA alleged that the State government was “ignoring” their plight. However, on March 8, the government published a draft notification changing the minimum wages of all classes of employees in the private healthcare sector.

According to the draft notification issued by the Labor and Skills department, the proposed revised wages of staff nurse will be between ₹25,450 and ₹30,800. The proposed revised base pay for top-level nurse managers and other senior roles ranges from ₹27,330 to ₹33,080.

But UNA was in no mood to give up, claiming that the revised salary offered was “just over a thousand rupees” higher than the pay scale applied in 2018. The association then called for an indefinite strike starting from 9 March.

Meanwhile, it was reported that some of the private hospital managements reached an agreement with UNA. The strike was later withdrawn from the institutions. However, majority of the administrations in Kozhikode, Kannur and Wayanad and some administrators in Ernakulam and Thrissur refused to fulfill this obligation. While nurses claimed that the minimum number of personnel was working in these places, hospital management and doctors claimed that emergency care, intensive care and newborn care services were disrupted. Some hospitals had to stop accepting new patients. Non-urgent surgeries have been postponed. In Kozhikode, the Kerala Private Hospital Association (KPHA) even urged the district administration to take steps to shift its patients to government hospitals. UNA held demonstrations in front of hospitals and Kozhikode District Collectorate. It was also claimed that some nurses on strike were beaten by management representatives.

What is the attitude of hospital managements?

KPHA publicly opposed the indefinite strike, calling it “illegal” and refused to impose any wage increases. Officials, including President Hussain Koya Thangal, allege that there was no advance notice before the agitation was launched. The association also filed a petition in the Kerala High Court, requesting that the authorities be directed to take appropriate action under the Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1968 and the Kerala Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1994, to declare hospital services as an essential service and take necessary steps in the public interest to ensure that “strikes and disruptive activities” affecting hospital services are prohibited.

However, UNA officials say they are not insistent on their demands and are willing to negotiate.

What did the Kerala High Court say?

On March 10, the court directed the Kerala government and the State Police Chief to take steps to ensure that the functioning of hospitals is not hampered or disrupted in any way following the agitation. The court took into account the seriousness of the situation and the possible impact on patients’ rights to access timely medical care and asked the authorities to ensure that free and unhindered access to hospitals is provided at all times. The court stated that no blockade, intimidation or intervention was allowed in or near the hospital building.

On March 13, the court asked the UNA to postpone the strike until March 19 and ordered talks to be held at the mediation center on March 17. After this, UNA temporarily withdrew the strike. Meanwhile, more hospitals have reportedly reached agreements with UNA and the strike there has been called off. According to sources, more than 400 hospitals have now signed agreements.

However, UNA said it would restart the strike if there was no progress in mediation efforts. During the Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, some UNA members even threatened to “act against politicians who do not support their cause.”

It was published – 16 March 2026 14:15 IST