06/03/2026
Standing with Kerala Nurses: Strike for Dignity and a Decent Life, Not Against Patients or Hospitals
Statement on the Nurses’ Strike under UNA – From My Perspective
I have worked for more than 9 years in Kerala as a Registered Nurse and am currently working in Canada as a Registered Practical Nurse. During my time in Kerala, I was also part of the UNA team, and I personally witnessed the struggles and challenges faced by nurses in private hospitals. I speak not as a current union representative, but as a concerned professional and community member who understands these issues firsthand.
Nurses dedicate four years of rigorous study and countless hours of work, including night shifts and high responsibilities. Yet, many earn low wages that do not reflect their education, experience, or the essential role they play in hospitals. Even after years of service, many nurses cannot earn enough to support their families or maintain basic living standards.
The ongoing strike under UNA is a demand for a minimum wage of ₹40,000 per month, which recognizes nurses’ education, experience, and dedication. Nurses are the heart of every hospital, yet private hospitals profit from their work without fair compensation. This issue is even more critical as Kerala’s health tourism sector grows, with hospitals expected to earn significant revenue in the future, while nurses remain underpaid.
The strike highlights several critical concerns:
1. Low Wages Despite Education and Experience: Nurses invest years in rigorous study and professional training. Despite their qualifications, long hours, and night shifts, many cannot earn enough to support their families.
2. Demand for Minimum Wage: UNA is demanding a minimum wage of ₹40,000 per month for all private hospital nurses in Kerala. This is essential to ensure that nurses’ education, experience, and dedication are fairly recognized.
3. Legal Rights & Dignity: Nurses remain underpaid while hospitals profit, particularly as Kerala becomes a major health tourism hub. The government has not adequately addressed this issue, leaving nurses undervalued despite their indispensable role.
4. Collective Action: Uniting all nurses under one platform allows better negotiation with hospital management and the government. Collective agreements can ensure consistent pay, fair working conditions, and prevent exploitation across hospitals.
5. Focus on Safety and Respect: Fair wages and recognition are closely tied to job security, respect, and safe working conditions, directly impacting nurses’ well-being and the quality of patient care.
6. Preventing Nurses from Going Abroad: Many skilled nurses leave Kerala seeking better pay and working conditions abroad. Ensuring fair wages and protections locally is crucial to retain talent, strengthen the healthcare system, and reduce the brain drain to countries where nurses are more valued.
7. Exploitation by Private Hospitals: Private hospitals often utilize nurses’ skills without proper compensation, prioritizing profit over staff well-being. Despite nurses being highly educated and experienced, hospitals fail to provide wages that reflect their contributions.
8. Call for Government Intervention: The strike is not only a fight for fair wages but a plea for justice, dignity, and recognition. The government must step in to enforce minimum wages, regulate private hospitals, and ensure fair treatment for nurses, recognizing their critical role in Kerala’s healthcare and growing health tourism sector.
I share this statement to inform the community, policymakers, and courts about the reasons behind the strike and to urge decisive action to ensure justice, dignity, and fair treatment for Kerala’s nurses.
— Anish Mathew, Canada 🇨🇦
