Chandigarh, 31st October 2024: The Union finance ministry has approved ₹30 crore to cover overdue payments for outsourced housekeeping staff at PGIMER, addressing a long-standing demand. This clearance comes just before Diwali, although the actual disbursement may take a few more days, according to officials.
The payment is intended to equalize the outsourced workers’ wages with those of the lowest-paid regular employees, following government notifications from 2018 and 2023 linked to a court ruling. The government had previously sanctioned ₹46 crore on April 19, 2024, for contract roles such as sanitary attendants, kitchen staff, and security guards, but approximately 1,600 housekeeping staff—also referred to as hospital attendants—were excluded.
Upset by this exclusion, the hospital attendants launched a strike on October 10, joined by over 3,000 contract workers, halting operations for a week until October 17. This strike caused disruptions to patient care and sanitation services.
On Wednesday, about 150-200 outsourced workers gathered in protest outside the administrative Kairon Block, demanding not only their arrears but also an annual bonus comparable to that of regular employees. They waved black flags and voiced opposition against the administration, although hospital operations were largely unaffected.
Despite news of the ₹30 crore approval, many workers expressed dissatisfaction, noting that the funds cover only arrears and not their request for a bonus.
In response, a PGIMER spokesperson announced that each eligible hospital attendant would receive a token amount of ₹10,000, with a potential bonus also under consideration.
In line with a recent high court order, PGIMER’s senior administrative officer directed that the names of the protesting employees be noted, warning of possible wage withholding and disciplinary action.
The October 16 court order ruled that disputes over service issues cannot justify an absence from essential hospital duties.
