Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh News : 108, 102 Ambulance Services Face 48-Hour Strike in Himachal Over Wage, EPF Issues
Staff of Himachal Pradesh’s 108 and 102 ambulance services will go on a 48-hour strike from tomorrow evening, pressing for minimum wages, overtime pay and proper EPF-ESI implementation, prompting authorities to arrange alternatives.
Employees of the Himachal Pradesh 108 and 102 ambulance services will go on a 48-hour strike beginning at 8 pm tomorrow, the Himachal Pradesh 108 and 102 Ambulance Employees Union, affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), announced on Monday.
CITU leaders claimed that a majority of the nearly 300 ambulances operating across the state are likely to remain off the road during the strike period. Anticipating disruptions, the National Health Mission (NHM), Himachal Pradesh, has directed Chief Medical Officers of all districts to put alternative arrangements in place to ensure that patients do not face inconvenience.
CITU state president Vijender Mehra said the strike was being organised to highlight the alleged exploitation of ambulance staff. He said the main demands include payment of minimum wages in accordance with government norms, double overtime for 12-hour duties and the grant of all holidays as prescribed under labour laws.
Mehra further demanded that wages should not be deducted during periods when vehicles are under maintenance or insurance-related downtime and that employees must be paid their full salaries. He also alleged serious shortcomings in the implementation of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) provisions for ambulance staff and called for their immediate correction.
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