Over 1 lakh ambulance workers hold protest, services disrupted in Himachal

As part of their ongoing strike, workers of the 108 and 102 ambulance services, under the banner of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office here today, demanding withdrawal of the four newly introduced labour codes along with redressal of long-pending service-related issues.

The protest led to disruption of ambulance services across the state, causing considerable inconvenience to patients. Similar demonstrations were held at district and block levels elsewhere in Himachal.

During the protest, ambulance workers raised slogans against the Narendra Modi-led Central government, terming its policies anti-people and anti-worker. Addressing the gathering, Vijendra Mehra, state president of CITU, alleged that ambulance workers were not being paid minimum wages as prescribed by the government and were being forced to work 12-hour shifts without overtime compensation.

“This exploitation has been continuing for years despite clear directions from the High Court, Labour Court, CJM Court Shimla and the Labour Department,” Mehra said. He further alleged that when workers raise issues through unions, they are subjected to mental harassment and intimidation. “Union leaders are transferred or pressured to resign, while several workers are deliberately kept off duty for months without valid reasons and denied legitimate leave benefits,” he added.

Mehra also pointed to serious irregularities in the implementation of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI). He alleged that both the employer’s and employee’s shares of EPF were being deducted from workers’ salaries, resulting in a monthly loss of about Rs 200 per employee. He further claimed that the basic salary component was kept abnormally low, in violation of labour laws.

Highlighting the workers’ demands, Mehra said they were seeking payment of minimum wages as per government norms, double overtime wages for 12-hour shifts, no salary deductions during vehicle maintenance or insurance periods, an end to harassment of union leaders in violation of the Trade Unions Act, 1926 and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, protection of workers’ rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution, cancellation of transfers of union leaders and rectification of EPF and ESI irregularities.

The ambulance workers warned that they would intensify their agitation and launch a mass movement if their demands were not met promptly.