Ambulance services will be interrupted from 8 p.m. on October 2nd to 8 p.m. on October 3rd due to the government’s unyielding stance and the ongoing strike by 108–102 ambulance staff around the state to press their demands. This implies that 108-102 ambulance services will be unavailable to the public for a full day. The Deputy Commissioner of Police has sent out a warning about the strike. In protest of the NHM’s and MadSwan Foundation management’s anti-employee actions, CITU, the state’s affiliated 108 and 102 ambulance employee unions, have chosen to go on strike.
According to representatives of the 108-102 ambulance staff union, these workers are being exploited by their main employer, the MadSwan Foundation. These workers are so exploited that they are not even paid the government-mandated minimum wage. Despite being required to work twelve hours a day, many workers do not receive overtime compensation. Employee exploitation has continued for years in spite of directives from the Labor Office, CGM Court Shimla, the High Court, and the Labor Court.
Employees of union leadership are either transferred or subjected to psychological abuse and compelled to quit. Additionally, there are significant problems with how ESI and EPF are being implemented. Their overall compensation exceeds their base pay. There are also flagrant violations of all other labor laws. Prior to joining MadSwan Foundation, these staff members worked for GVK EMRI. They did not get notice pay, a gratuity, a retrenchment allowance, or any other benefits when they were laid off or terminated from this company. Due to the extreme exploitation of the workers, a 24-hour strike is being organized to urge their demands, beginning at 8 p.m. on October 2.
