More than 4,000 public health workers at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will receive a new minimum monthly salary of ₹18,000, plus variable dearness allowance (DA) as a part of the “equal pay for equal work” principle. The decision was made at a meeting of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at the MCD on October 23, 2026.
The change will benefit those employees who were initially recruited as domestic breeding checkers (DBCs) to help control dengue in Delhi. They were later promoted to Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) in the Public Health Department and have been performing public health duties over time.
The revised payments have been transferred directly to the employees' bank accounts, officials said. The measure is expected to increase the MCD's annual expenditure by about ₹52 crore.
MCD salary hike: What will employees get?
The affected workers’ pay will be fixed at least Level 1 of the applicable pay matrix, amounting to ₹18,000 per month, plus variable dearness allowance.
The ₹18,000 figure is the minimum salary component, not necessarily the total monthly amount an employee will receive. The final amount will depend on the applicable DA and other relevant salary components.
The dearness allowance is intended to provide some relief against rising living costs. Since such an allowance is a supplement to the minimum salary, eligible employees may receive more than ₹18,000 per month.
The exact amount attributed to each individual worker may be different. Reports of certain employees receiving higher amounts shouldn’t be taken as a total salary for all 4,000 workers.
Who will benefit from the decision?
The wage change covers about 4,000 MCD employees working as Multi-Tasking Staff in the Public Health Department. Many were initially hired as domestic breeding checkers to control dengue in Delhi.
Their work has continued beyond their initial recruitment purpose. These workers do door-to-door visits and are associated with public health activities, including mosquito-borne diseases surveillance and control.
MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar said the employees have continued to contribute to public health services over the years. “The new pay structure is in line with what we want to do for them and will give them more financial security.”
For many employees, the decision came after years of demands for better wages and recognition of their work. The change brings their minimum salary in line with Level 1 of the pay matrix, and variable DA payable in addition.
Delhi Government's Equal Pay for Equal Work Decision
Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister, said the decision recognized the contribution of workers who had been working in Delhi’s public health system for decades. The government had to ensure the welfare and dignity of workers working on the ground.
Mayor Pravesh Wahi said the salary revision was proposed in an earlier MCD budget and was then taken up with the Chief Minister for approval. He said the annual financial impact of the decision would be around ₹52 crore.
Equal pay for equal work seeks to ensure that workers doing the same work are paid as much as possible. The new pay structure has been implemented within the MCD public health staff and the new structure will be beneficial to the working conditions for the MCD public health staff.
However, the announcement is for the specified group of workers and should not be taken to mean that the same salary revision automatically covers all MCD employees or all contractual workers.
MCD also announces recruitment of 2,500 sanitation workers
In the meantime, Mayor Pravesh Wahi announced that he would recruit 2,500 sanitation workers to clean Delhi's markets and other areas during the festive season.
The recruitment is to help in waste management and cleanliness efforts around Diwali, when commercial areas and public spaces will be at a higher activity rate.
The announcement of sanitation recruitment is separate from the salary hike for public health staff. Further details about recruitment schedules, eligibility requirements, and deployment arrangements would need to follow from the civic body.
What the Wage Revision means for MCD employees?
The new minimum salary and DA provide a pay-related benefit for nearly 4,000 public health workers who have continued serving the civic body for years. The direct transfer of revised payments also indicates that implementation has begun for the covered employees.
The key details for the workers are minimum monthly salary of ₹18,000, the additional variable DA, and the annual financial burden on the MCD is estimated at ₹52 crore.
Employees should refer to the applicable MCD salary orders or official communications for individual pay calculations, deductions, and any other eligible components. The revision is focused on the covered public health staff and does not automatically establish a general DA hike for all government or municipal employees.
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