Contractual staffers at SGH protest over pending dues

Hospital says excess payment was made to the contractor; promises to look into issue

Corona warriors and healthcare workers at Sassoon General Hospitals (SGH) and BJ Medical College (BJMC), who had worked round the clock during the pandemic, protested on Monday over unpaid salaries over six months. Over 200 staffers (all contractual) are paid irregularly, they said, making it difficult to survive.

Over 110 lab technicians started working at SGH in August. Services of 27 officials were discontinued and 72 retained from November 1. However, salaries of these 27 staffers have not been paid since August. The remaining 72 technicians have not been paid for October and 20 days of August.

“Even though the lab technicians have completed their duties, the hospital claims they are not eligible for the salaries. Then how can they be eligible for the duties? The salaries are yet to be paid by the hospital,” said Rupali Kenan, a lab technician.

Similar is the condition 115 nursing staffers who have been working at SGH since May. On October 12, theirs services were discontinued. “Salaries were not paid for October. We were penniless during Diwali,” said Suvarna Gawade, a nurse.

According to the contractor, the SGH officials have not yet made the payment, claiming they were paid in excess previously. “There is a fault on the hospital’s part. The officials are not ready to discuss it and are simply delaying the salaries. If they want, they can make the adjustment in the coming bills,” said an official from the company who has taken the contract.

Dr M Tambe, dean of BJMC, however said there was nothing to worry about as the salaries were cleared on time. “The number of staffers was cut by us as the COVID cases decreased. The salaries of October are pending. The money has been received by us and their payment will be cleared in a couple of days,” he said.

Tambe added that the lab technicians’ salary is also paid on time by the hospital. “There are some errors in the payment — excess payment has been made to the contractor. We are checking the records. Pending dues will be cleared accordingly,” he said.