No job regularisation for contract health workers, says Health Minister

CHENNAI: Hours after his remarks on protests by contract health workers sparked criticism, Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Friday issued a clarification, saying his comments had been misunderstood, and that temporary appointments could not be regularised under existing law.

In a social media post, the Minister said his observations at a press conference on agitations by temporary government employees were misinterpreted unintentionally and urged workers not to read his remarks otherwise.

“I’ve always respected those who fight for their rights. Before becoming a Minister, I was a trade union leader. I’m fully aware of the critical role government employees play in taking welfare schemes to the people,” he said. “My intention was never to undermine employees’ struggles.”

However, a press release issued earlier by his department did not retract the Minister’s original statement, in which he categorically ruled out the regularisation of temporary workers, including contract health staff. Addressing reporters earlier in the day, Subramanian said that such employees were engaged on 11-month contractual terms, followed by a mandatory break, a system followed uniformly across States.

“There is no provision to regularise such appointments. Not just Tamil Nadu, no State in India can do so without violating court directives,” he said, and underlined that the judiciary had consistently held that permanent appointments must follow communal rotation and established recruitment norms. “Any attempt to regularise appointments made outside these procedures will invite court intervention,” he warned.

The Minister earlier alleged that the ongoing agitation was being fuelled by external and political elements, claiming it was neither led by recognised unions nor driven by organised government employees. “Peaceful protest is a democratic right. Our concern is only to prevent motivated movements aimed at exerting pressure, particularly during an election period,” he said.