Contract workers at the Udumalai Government Hospital in Tirupur district have gone on strike, citing non-payment of accrued provident fund dues and demanding immediate settlement.
Coimbatore: Around fifty contract workers engaged in sanitation and cleaning services at Udumalai Government Hospital have commenced an unexpected strike. These workers, employed through various contractors over the last decade, are protesting the non-deposition of their provident fund entitlements that had been deducted from their wages. The locals from Udumalai and nearby Madathukulam rely significantly on this hospital for their medical needs. Despite the ongoing negotiations with the private contract company, there has been no resolution, leading to a halt in critical hospital cleaning operations. Workers expressed their distress, stating that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, they worked without taking leaves, risking their lives to ensure the hospital’s sanitation. They urge the government to intervene and ensure the funds that rightfully belong to them are paid without further delay.
