Hospital contract workers demand fair wages

Metro India News | MAHABUBNAGAR

Contract workers at the District General Hospital in Mahabubnagar have intensified their demand for implementation of government-approved wage norms, alleging that they continue to receive lower salaries despite years of service. They say repeated protests and appeals have yielded little response from the Health Department, forcing them to continue working under financial strain.

The issue came up during a meeting between representatives of Sai Security Services Agency, which manages the hospital's outsourced workforce, and leaders of the AITUC labour union. According to union members, the agency agreed to resolve issues relating to uniforms, promotions for senior workers and pending overtime payments. However, it requested more time to discuss the wage revision.

Workers alleged that salaries are not being paid in accordance with Government Order (GO) 60, which prescribes revised wages for contract employees. They claimed that while other outsourced staff at the hospital receive around Rs 13,600 per month, many contract workers continue to receive only Rs 11,500, despite the previous tender guidelines providing for a monthly wage of Rs 12,093.

Labour union leaders questioned why the revised wage norms have not been implemented and alleged that the tender guidelines framed by the authorities have resulted in financial losses for workers. They demanded that the existing government wage structure be enforced until a new tender policy is introduced.

The workers urged senior Health Department officials to intervene immediately, implement the prescribed wage norms and ensure justice for contract employees, warning that continued delays could trigger fresh protests