Himachal: Ambulance workers protest over wages, ‘workplace harassment’

A scuffle broke out between police personnel and ambulance workers during a protest outside the National Health Mission (NHM) office, organised by the 108 and 102 Ambulance Employees’ Union affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). The protest was staged to demand the implementation of minimum wages, enforcement of labour laws and an end to the alleged harassment of workers.

Hundreds of ambulance staff, including pilots, captains and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), raised slogans and demanded immediate redress of long-standing grievances, including the non-compliance of judicial and departmental orders on workers’ rights.

The protest was called off after NHM Managing Director held talks with CITU leaders and assured them of prompt action on their demands.

Vijender Mehra, state president of CITU, alleged that employees working under Medswan Foundation—contracted by NHM—are subjected to severe exploitation. “These workers put in 12-hour shifts but are neither paid minimum wages nor given overtime as mandated by law,” he said.

Mehra also accused the authorities of ignoring judicial orders from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Labour Court, District Court in Shimla and directives from the Labour Department. “Workers who speak out through unions are harassed, transferred or forced to resign. Many have been arbitrarily kept off duty for months without explanation, denied official leave and routinely threatened,” he added.

He further pointed out major irregularities in Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and Employee State Insurance (ESI) contributions, claiming that the basic salary component in total wages is unjustifiably low.

Mehra warned that if the demands are not met, the union would escalate its agitation, which could result in a complete halt of ambulance services across the state.