Workers protest at IGMC over delay in payment of salaries

The contractual workers of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla — cleaners, ward attendants, ECG staff, mess workers, paramedical personnel and laundry staff — under the banner of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) on Monday staged a protest at the gates of the hospital, and demanded the immediate payment of their salary dues.

During the protest, CITU state president Vijender Mehra accused the hospital administration and contractors of exploiting the workers.

He said over 150 workers had not received their salaries for two months.

None of the hospital’s outsourced workers had been paid for November, he added.

He alleged that workers were being forced to perform extra tasks without additional compensation.

Mehra said IGMC workers were subject to unfair dismissal, with over 150 staff members facing termination under a purported conspiracy.

“Basic labour rights such as minimum wages, provident fund, health insurance, holidays, an eight-hour workday, timely salary payments, bonuses, changing rooms and uniforms, remain unaddressed,” Mehra added.

The union warned that if their demands were not met by December 23, they would intensify their movement and would stage a continuous protest against the hospital management and the contractors.

The union said they would also hold rallies and marches to Raj Bhavan, the Secretariat, the Mahatma Gandhi statue and the Deputy Commissioner’s office.