Arrears not released, PGI attendants go on strike

Hospital Attendants Union (HAU) of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) went on strike today. They have raised their concerns on the administration’s failure to release the arrears of the respective employees under ‘equal work and equal pay’, an order issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which has not been implemented for a long time. Other contract workers unions also extended their support to the strike.

Nearly six to seven months ago, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had given Rs 46 crore to clear the arrears of sanitary attendants, kitchen staff and security guards, but there was no mention of hospital attendants in the letter. While three of the four types of contract workers were paid arrears till January 2024, the hospital attendants were left out. Vikramjit Singh, president, All Contract Workers Union; and Rajesh Chauhan, president, HAU, were led the strike. They also met Pankaj Rai, Deputy-Director Administration (DDA), PGI, to raise the issue in the morning.

Chauhan said, “Nearly 20 days ago, we had shared with the authorities that if no action is taken on our pending arrears by October 10, we will go on strike. So, now we have no intentions to call it off until they assure us of payment. If there’s a loss of life due to our strike, the PU authorities will be responsible, not us.”

Pankaj Rai said, “It’s true that we were given a letter that a strike will be called if demands were not met, but we expected it to happen by October 11. Also, we had already forwarded the demand for arrears by hospital attendants to the Health Ministry, but these things take time.”

In the evening, Chauhan also met the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner(Central) in Sector 9. The hospital attendants refused to call off the strike. They continued to sit in the park opposite Administration Block.

Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent and Head of Department of Hospital Administration, said, “After the first grant came a few months ago for sanitary attendants, kitchen staff and security guards, we immediately shared with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare about the attendants having been left out of the arrear benefit. They also reverted and asked for funds required and financial statements for the 1,600 hospital attendants in the institute. It’s under active consideration.”

Contract workers constitute 80% of the total work force. According to sources, the strike was uncalled for because all necessary actions have been taken by the PGI authorities and the decision is pending with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Hospital attendants are either attached to doctors to manage the roll call of patients or to certain wards to help patients and their attendants.

Elective surgeries suspended

The PGI has activated a contingency plan to maintain essential services. Though all elective surgeries have been suspended from October 11, OPD service has been curtailed. No new OPD admissions will be entertained. The authorities have also urged hospitals in the city and other states to not refer patients to the PGI.