The terminated contractual fourth class workers of All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS) Trauma Center, Delhi have intensified their agitation against the country premier institute and the private company, Sudarshan Facilities Pvt Ltd which had allegedly denied them the minimum wages.
The workers have registered a plea before the Labour Commissioner. Sudarshan Facilities has been given the contract for hiring housekeeping staff for running the services at AIIMS Trauma Centre. "We have been unlawfully sacked last week. You are requested to intervene in the matter to get us reinstated with back wages," read the letter.
Meanwhile, the letter alleges that the companies 'powerfully' made 100 employees resign over the last one year. "When the employees raise their demand for minimum wages as per the law, the hospital administration called the police which in turn manhandled the workers. The next day, the services of the 18 employees was terminated," said general secretary of the union, Mriganka. He also stated that the workers employed under the contract were hired for Rs 9,500 but since January, they were receiving only Rs 8,500. On March 1, the issue was initially taken up with the management which failed to respond. In a letter to AIIMS deputy director, the contractual workers' union has alleged that they were also being compelled to perform work of Class III staff, like OT technicians and computer operators. Also, the letter mentioned the delays in payment of wages and denial of bonus.