Chennai, 22 August: Public Services International (PSI), a Global Union Federation representing health workers worldwide, stands in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers in India who have stopped work to protest against violence at the workplace. The brutal rape and murder of a young woman medic has ignited a powerful movement among health workers across the country, who have long endured harassment, violence and discrimination.

“We stand with the health workers of India as they demand an end to the gender-based-violence and harassment they face daily” said Kannan Raman, PSI’s Sub-regional Secretary for South Asia. “These workers, who bravely served through the pandemic, consistently prioritise lives and health of the public over their own well-being. Yet they are underpaid, overburdened and now face horrific violence, harassment and discrimination.”

PSI, alongside the global union movement, has been urging the Indian government to ratify the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work (C190). Adopted by the ILO’s International Labour Conference in 2019 and enforced since 2021, C190 requires governments that ratify to implement laws and policies to prevent and address violence and harassment in the workplace. Despite repeated calls from the global union movement, India has yet to ratify the Convention. Meanwhile, 44 countries, including the Philippines, South Africa, and Mauritius, have already taken this critical step.

The union movement urges the Ministry of Health to consult with workers and their unions to develop health sector-specific policies and practices to tackle persistent gender-based violence, harassment and discrimination.

Nurses’ unions have also been calling for the promised Guidelines for working condition of Nurses to be reviewed and finalised in consultation with the workers. Although a draft was developed in 2022, the government has not responded to the unions’ submissions, leaving the policy in limbo.

“The global labour movement applauds the courage and determination of the striking health workers. These workers don’t want apologies or tears – they want action, respect and guaranteed rights at work,” said Raman.

For media queries, please contact:

Kannan Raman: kannan.raman@world-psi.org; +91 98403 65950 Jyotsna Singh: jyotsna.singh@world-psi.org,; +91 9999332811