Contract healthcare staff protest across Telangana hospitals

Contract sanitation workers, patient care staff and security personnel staged protests at government hospitals across Telangana, demanding a monthly wage of Rs 26,000. The AITUC-affiliated union also sought fresh tenders, statutory leave benefits, minimum wages and annual bonuses.

Hyderabad: Hundreds of contract sanitation workers, patient care staff and security personnel posted at government hospitals across Telangana participated in statewide protests on Thursday, demanding that their monthly wages be hiked to Rs 26,000.

Healthcare support staff turned out in large numbers outside major tertiary hospitals in Hyderabad and across the districts to take part in the protests, which were organised by the Telangana Medical Contract Employees and Workers Union (AITUC).

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At a protest on the Osmania General Hospital (OGH) campus, healthcare staff expressed deep frustration over prolonged stagnation in pay and worsening working conditions.

The State general secretary of the workers’ union, M Narasimha, criticised the State government for its apathy. He pointed out that although the three-year tender period for hospital contract workers had expired two years ago, authorities had continued with the old contractors without issuing fresh tenders, leaving workers trapped on meagre wages.

The union leaders demanded that the government immediately invite fresh tenders, enforce minimum wage laws, grant the statutory 23 festival, national and earned leaves, and provide an annual bonus equivalent to one month’s salary.

The protesting healthcare workers said that the influx of patients at public hospitals had surged, leaving contract workers overworked.

The widespread protests disrupted routine support services across several major medical institutions, including Osmania General Hospital, Niloufer Hospital, Petlaburj Maternity Hospital, Koti Maternity Hospital, King Koti Hospital, MNJ Institute of Oncology, Fever Hospital, Nampally Area Hospital and Malakpet Area Hospital, as well as multiple district-level hospitals.