PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: The civic body has refused to extend the contract of over 500 healthcare workers it hired on contract during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.
The contract, after a few extensions, expired on January 31 for doctors, nurses, ward boys and technicians. The healthcare workers alleged that the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) had promised permanent jobs to most of them. But, after the cases started to drop, they were removed from their respective positions. The workers started a sit-in protest on February 11, in front of the PCMC office in Chinchwad.
Sagar Yellale, a ward boy at the Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital and a member of the ‘Corona Yoddha Bachao Kruti Samiti’, said, “I joined the YCMH in July when the pandemic was at its peak. We have seen the permanent staff backing out, while we were ready to work in any department. Now, we have no jobs and we feel cheated.”
Municipal commissioner Rajesh Patil said, “We shall think about their demands, but there is no plan to regularize the contract workers. I am studying the issue and appropriate action will be taken.”
The PMC’s officials said they had also employed healhcare workers in municipal health services. A fresh advertisement would be issued soon for recruitment. “Contracts of staff for Covid-19 treatment at the jumbo hospital are yet to expire. Contracts are expected to last till March 8, after which a decision on the )renewal would be taken,” Kunal Khemnar, PMC’s additional commissioner, said.