Contract workers of SMS threaten to intensify strike

JAIPUR: Agitated over deployment of temporary staff at the hospitals associated with medical colleges, the contract workers of SMS Medical College demonstrated against the state health minister and burnt his effigy here on Sunday.
At most of the government hospitals, sanitation and non-medical assistant jobs have been outsourced on contract basis. As these workers are employees of the contractors, the hospital administrations don’t have to involve in micro management, holding contractor responsible for any irregularity.
However, alleging the contractors of exploitation, the contract workers of the associated hospitals have gone on strike demanding direct hiring by the state government. At present, nearly 140 regular sanitation employees and 50 temporary employees are filling in for the 1,100 contract workers on strike.
As the contract workers warned of a march to meet the chief minister on Monday, the hospital administration has approached Army Welfare Board and non-government organisations for temporary arrangement of staff.
“Instead of being considerate towards our plight, the hospital administration and the health ministry have adopted a repressive attitude,” alleged Vikram Singh, leader of the contract workers’ association. “We shall not yield to such pressure tactics and the exploitation of workers will not be tolerated further,” he added.