Kochi: The decks have been cleared for the notification of minimum wages for the nursing staff in private hospitals in the state with the High Court on Tuesday rejecting the petition of the Kerala Private Hospital Management Association seeking to restrain the government in this regard. The court vacated a stay granted earlier and said that the government can go ahead with the notification.
The court also said that if needed the government can hold further discussions. The aggrieved parties can approach the court in case of grievances after the notification. A discussion held in the presence of High Court representatives to solve the deadlock a few days ago had failed to achieve a breakthrough in the matter.
The representatives of the private hospital managements said that if Rs 20,000 per month is fixed as the minimum wages, the total emoluments even for the juniormost nurse would be around Rs 33,000 per month which is unaffordable. The nurses associations on the other hand refused to compromise on the demand for Rs 20,000 as minimum wages as the same has been approved by the Supreme Court. The United Nurses Association has threatened to launch an indefinite agitation if the government fails to notify the minimum wages.
