Outsourcing staff being exploited, alleges union

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, December 1

Employees deployed under the outsourcing policy in government hospitals are allegedly being financially exploited by the authorities concerned.

The employees alleged that employees hired under the outsourcing policy have to pay a bribe of Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 for getting a job. The employees are also not being given the benefit of matching EPF contribution by the employer.

The agitated employees, who are sitting on dharna at Uklana hospital for the past 23 days, alleged that the authorities concerned have sacked 23 employees from service in a month without citing any reason.

The Sarv Karamchari Sangh has demanded that the sacked employees must be taken back on service. It has threatened to hold a protest rally in Hisar on December 1.

An employee stated on the condition of anonymity that he paid a bribe of Rs 50,000 to get a job under the outsourcing policy.

“I don’t know even a single person who got a job under the outsourcing policy without paying a bribe. The employees have to pay the bribe even if one has political recommendation,” he said.

Demanding a high-level inquiry into the allegations of cash-for-job and other irregularities, Surender Yadav, district president of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, said giving bribe is a normal practice as people are ready to pay it for getting a job.

“This is extortion at the behest of people who are responsible for recruiting under the outsourcing policy. Moreover, the employees are sacked at the drop of a hat to pave the way for another person. The agency concerned sacked about 12 employees posted in Hansi and Uklana hospitals without any reason,” he alleged.

Yadav said that as per government rule, the employer has to make a contribution towards the employees’ provident fund which is equal to the EPF deduction from the employee’s salary. However, only the amount deducted from the salary of the employee is being deposited in the EPF account of the employees. The employer is not depositing the matching amount. “This huge scam is going in the entire state,” he said.

However, the contractor agency that hired the employees has issued notice that the leave of all employees is being cancelled from December 1 to 5 and those found absent would be dismissed from service immediately.

Yadav alleged that the employer has issued this notice to prevent the employees from attending the protest rally of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh.