Chandigarh: Following persistent demands and sustained protests by contractual workers, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh has released pending arrears amounting to over Rs 12 crore, bringing long-awaited financial relief to thousands of employees.
According to office orders issued on Friday, PGIMER released the remaining 20% balance arrears for hospital attendants and sanitation workers for the period from October 2018 to January 2024. The total amount disbursed under this head stands at Rs 12,15,81,856. In addition, arrears worth Rs 56,81,852 have been released to bearers.
Also Read:PGI contract workers warn of 24-hour strike on December 30 over pending arrears
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that contractual workers at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, have been on a chain hunger strike for the past 41 days, demanding the release of pending payments and other benefits. They have warned of a 24-hour strike on 30 December 2025 if the hospital administration fails to address their long-standing demands.
The issue of arrears is linked to PGIMER’s engagement of contract labour under exemptions granted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment through a notification dated December 12, 2014. The notification allows the engagement of contractual workers subject to the condition that they are paid wages and provided service conditions equivalent to those of the lowest-paid regular employees performing similar duties. Notably, the same notification had abolished contractual labour in sanitation, security, and catering services.
In a related development, PGIMER has also decided to release arrears amounting to ₹2 crore to security guards deployed at its satellite centres in Una and Sangrur.
