Hyderabad: Contract medical staff protest for pay hike

Koti: Demanding salary hike, the patient care, security and sanitation workers of government hospitals staged protest for salary hike at DME office in Koti on Tuesday. They sought a raise from Rs 9,400 to Rs 21,000.

They alleged that the government has been exploiting the labor rules and regulations without proving increments and salary hikes for the last eight years. Telangana Medical Contract Employees and Workers Union (AITUC) state presidents M D Yusuf criticised the government for ignoring their problems.

"The Supreme Court has ruled to enforce equal pay for equal work but it's not being followed by any organised body of government," he added.

AITUC city president Y Narsimha said, "Workers endured many hardships and supported the state during that most difficult time. They were given a risk allowance of Rs 300 per day. But only a couple of them benefitted. it is unfair to force employees to Work for mere Rs 9,400 per month in a metropolitan city like Hyderabad."

Moreover, Hospitals are not enforcing national and earned holidays, PF and EAs and employees are badly hit with irregular payment. They demanded regularization of employment for those having more than 10 years of experience. The agitators threatened to go on strike from January 9 if their demands aren't met by then. AITUC state secretary Hasina Begum, city chief secretary M Lakshmibai, S Kishtamma, Swaroopa, Krishnaveni, Vinoda, Rudramma, Saresh, Venkatesh and others took part in the protest.