Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Thane Mental Hospital Clears Rs 58 Lakh Wage Arrears
A mental hospital in Thane owed money to 68 sanitation workers.
The workers were employed through a contractor.
They said they had not been paid according to minimum-wage rules.
To protest, they held demonstrations and a 28-day hunger strike.
A labour official ordered that Rs 58 lakh be paid.
The contractor challenged that order in the Bombay High Court.
The court then told the authorities to carry out the payment order.
The workers have now received the money in their bank accounts.
Thane mental hospital paid Rs 58 lakh in arrears to 68 contractual sanitation workers.
The workers received the money in their bank accounts earlier this week.
The Shramik Janta Sangh Union said the contractor failed to follow the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
Workers held protests and a 28-day chain hunger strike over the unpaid wages.
The Bombay High Court ordered implementation of earlier labour orders within four weeks.
- Who
- The Thane mental hospital administration, 68 contractual sanitation workers, their contractor Lokrajya Swayamrojgar Seva Sahakari Sanstha, and the Shramik Janta Sangh Union.
- What
- The hospital disbursed Rs 58 lakh in long-pending wage arrears to the sanitation workers.
- When
- The payment was made earlier in the week of September 11; the Bombay High Court issued its implementation direction in April.
- Where
- A mental hospital in Thane city, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The payment followed labour orders and a Bombay High Court directive after the contractor allegedly failed to comply with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
Workers and Union
Contractor’s Legal Challenge
Responsibility for unpaid wages
Workers and Union
The union said the contractor failed to comply with minimum-wage requirements and that the hospital, as principal employer, should assume liability if the contractor defaulted.
Contractor’s Legal Challenge
The contractor challenged the assistant labour commissioner’s payment order in the Bombay High Court.
Future employment system
Workers and Union
Union vice-president Sanjay Mangala Gopal said the union would continue seeking an end to the contract system for permanent roles and fair wages.
Contractor’s Legal Challenge
The articles do not state the contractor’s position on the contract system or the workers’ future employment.
- Amount paid
- Rs 58 lakh
- Workers affected
- 68 contractual sanitation workers
- Employer arrangement
- Workers were employed through Lokrajya Swayamrojgar Seva Sahakari Sanstha.
- Initial labour order
- The assistant labour commissioner ordered payment within 45 days in December last year.
- Hospital liability
- The hospital administration was directed to assume liability as principal employer if the contractor defaulted.
- Court direction
- The Bombay High Court directed implementation of the labour orders within four weeks in April.
- Worker protest
- Workers staged protests and a 28-day chain hunger strike.