Nurses gain major wage hike in Tamil Nadu
26 July 2018: In November 2017, around 3,000 nurses went on a strike demanding higher wages, eight-hour work shifts and permanent jobs in Tamil Nadu. The government has finally considered their demands and issues a notification raising the wage of nurses employed on contract from Rs.7,700 per month to Rs.14,000 per month. The move will benefit over 3000 nurses working on a contract basis in Primary Health Care centres, government hospitals and government medical college hospitals across the state. the nurses will also get an annual hike of Rs 500 and would be a part of the Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme.
Haryana government kneels to demands of ASHA workers
21 July 2018: Haryana government has issued a notification raising the fixed salary of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) and various incentives entitled to them after the 3000 ASHA workers called for a two-day sit in on 15th and 16th July 2018 under the banner of Haryana ASHA Worker’s Union.
As per the notification, the incentive for hospitalised delivery has been raised from Rs. 300 to Rs.400. The incentives for Home Based Post Natal Care (HBPNC) and Antenatal Care (ANC) has been increased to Rs 350 from Rs 250. The incentives for vaccination have been increased to Rs 250 from Rs 150 along with a fixed salary of Rs. 4000 per month.
The notification also states ex-gratia of Rs 3 Lakhs for the family of the ASHAs if they lose their lives during the work. Also, weightage would be given to eligible ASHAs in the appointments of regular/contractual MPHW (F) and staff nurses. The move will benefit around 20,000 ASHA workers employed by the state.
Chennai: High Court directs police to file FIR against management, as workers intensify protests
19 July 2018: Madras High Court has ordered Chennai Police to accept the FIR of 56 trainees against the management of DMC Automotive, a Korean automobile parts supplier company which the Police had earlier refused. Earlier last month, workers had demanded that their services be regularized and put down tools against their continued employment as Trainees for the last 6 years. To suppress the strike management had terminated the services of 24 workers including union office bearers and initiated a domestic enquiry. The workers had approached the police against management for lying to the workers and conducting the domestic enquiry in absentia.
