Contract workers at GRH stage protest against contractor’s decision to expel workers aged above 55 years

Contract health workers protest against new private contractor expelling workers above 55 years at Government Rajaji Hospital.

Contract health workers of Government Rajaji Hospital staged a protest on the hospital premises here on Wednesday condemning the contract company which had allegedly expelled workers aged above 55 years.

Priya, a health worker, who has been a staff for more than five years at the hospital, said that this decision was taken by a new private contractor — Sumeet Facilities Limited —which has taken over the tender for the next three years.

Earlier, the contractor was Crystal, a private contract company, who had hired these workers and was paying them. But as the contract got over on Tuesday, the new private contractor, Sumeet Facilities Limited, had taken over the tender for the next three years. 

Without any prior notice or information, the new company through their manager informed workers, aged above 55, who had arrived at the hospital in the morning that they have been expelled from the job, Ms. Priya said.  

The perplexed workers had questioned the company and they were informed that company has fixed a norm that workers aged above 55 years would not be retained, she added.  

M. Baskaran, State secretary, Tamil Nadu Government Hospital Auxiliary Workers Union – COITU, noted that of the 800 contract workers at the hospital, about 170 were aged above 55 years and around 70 were aged above 58 years.