NIMS contract staff stage protest demanding pay revision and job security

Around 1,300 contract healthcare workers at NIMS in Hyderabad staged a protest demanding pay scale revision, regularisation of services and job security. The workers also sought a minimum salary of Rs.26,000 and timely payment of wages.

Hyderabad: Close to 1,300 contract healthcare workers from the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Panjagutta, on Tuesday participated in a protest rally near the NIMS main gate, demanding the immediate resolution of their long-standing grievances.

The protesters called on the State government and NIMS authorities to honour the commitments previously made in the presence of the Joint Commissioner of Labour (JCL). Union president M Venkatesh warned the authorities that they would launch a full-scale agitation if their demands continued to be ignored.

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Venkatesh highlighted the plight of staff members who have served the institution for over two to three decades on meagre salaries. He maintained that seniority should be the primary criterion for the permanent regularisation of their services.

The primary financial demand of the contract workers centres on the restructuring of the current pay scales. Citing the rise in the cost of living and inflation, the workers are seeking a minimum monthly wage of Rs.26,000 for all contract staff, along with a guarantee that salaries be credited promptly on the first of every month.

Other demands include increasing the retirement age to 61 years, the immediate implementation of free medical facilities for retired workers, priority for qualified contract staff in semi-skilled post vacancies regardless of age, and the provision of the legally mandated 180 days of maternity leave for female employees.