PGI management, joint action panel hold talks over key issues

Conciliation proceedings between the PGI management and Joint Action Committee(JAC) were held today before the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Chandigarh.

The issues addressed between the two parties are that of equal work, equal pay, pending arrears and regularisation of outsourced staff.

The JAC consist of five Contract Workers Union (CWUs), namely PGI Safai Karamchari Contract Workers Union, PGI Contract Security Workers Union, PGI Mahila Contract Workers Union and PGI Electrical Contract Workers Union.

All unions unanimously resolved to make an offer for peaceful written settlement on the issues presented to management and Deputy Labour Commissioner.

To avoid confrontation on pending arrears, JAC will file a Civil Writ Petition (CWP) for implementation of the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner’s orders to make payment of remaining arrears of revised wages with effect from January 11, 2010 to October 8, 2018.

The PGI management has sought one week’s time to respond to the written offer made by JAC/CWUs and next date for Conciliation Proceedings has been fixed for February 7.

The JAC has requested to release payment within a timeframe ranging from two to eight weeks and for the remainder issues such as regularisation, the Joint Action Committeewill contest before High Court.

According to JAC, efforts made by High Court asking PGI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Labour and Employment to find a solution by holding joint meeting did not yield any results.

The PGI management also recently placed a proposal to create 3,282 regular posts against already sanctioned posts on contract/outsource basis as agreed during the course of Conciliation Proceedings in July 2024. The proposal was taken up with Standing Finance Committee (SFC) in November last but to no conclusion.

The management has shared that the SFC has not accepted the proposal for creation of regular posts.