Mess workers at GMC paid less than minimum wages

Manmeet Singh Gill

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 3

Mess workers at hostels of Government Medical College (GMC) here are complaining of getting low wages, as they complained that they were being paid Rs 3,200 per month, even though the wages were revised to Rs 8,350 per month.

The workers stated that as they were contractual employees, their services would be terminated as soon as they came out in the open to complain. “There are around 100 workers engaged at the mess in various hostels for boys and girls. Our counterparts in Government Dental College have already started getting revised pay,” said a worker, pleading anonymity.

In a letter issued by the Secretary, Medical Education and Research, in October 2016, it was outlined that the mess workers should be paid wages as per the Minimum Wages Act.

“In the past four months, we have been getting the same wages which were fixed in 2010. Inflation has increased manifold, but our wages are the same, even though these were officially revised,” said another worker.

Though the workers are pleading anonymity, a local RTI activist, Ravinder Sultanwind, has filed a complaint to the Principal Secretary, Medical Education and Research.

The workers demand that their wages should be revised as per the minimum wages and they should be given the arrears from October 2016, as it was then that the decision to increase the wages was taken.

A college official stated that the matter has been delayed, as they had not yet received the financial sanction. He said the matter was being pursued and it would be resolved soon.

Newly appointed college principal Dr Tejbir Singh said as he had joined only a few days ago, he was not aware of the facts, but he would investigate the matter.