KGH Contract Staff Seek Regularisation, Equal Pay

VISAKHAPATNAM: Contract employees at King George Hospital have renewed their demand for regularisation, equal pay and better working conditions, saying they continue to work without job security and adequate benefits despite years of service.

The Andhra Pradesh Medical and Health Contract Employees Joint Action Committee (JAC), Visakhapatnam district, held a peaceful protest at KGH on Friday. JAC chairman Sk. Asha, convenor M. Ch. Kishore Rao and co-chairman S. Pydi Raju were among those who addressed the gathering.

The JAC demanded payment of 100 per cent of gross salary, extension of Employee Provident Fund benefits and parity with permanent staff in allowances. It also sought regularisation, health insurance and transfer and mutual transfer options for contract employees.

The committee said nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and other allied health workers played a key role in the government healthcare system but continued to face uncertainty over their jobs and limited benefits.

Speakers said the continued neglect of contract staff could affect employee morale and hospital services. The women’s wing of the JAC, led by Padmavathi and other coordinators, also raised concerns over working conditions and called for gender-sensitive policies.

The JAC warned that it would intensify its agitation if the government failed to address its demands. Leaders said employees would continue to be mobilised across the district and state under the slogan “Unity is Strength”.