Direct government to resolve our issues: Nurses

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose on directing the State to abstain from seeking any further adjournments on the issue posted the case for final hearing to

Friday.

Senior Counsel P Wilson appearing for MRB Nurses welfare association submitted that when the recruitment was made in the year 2015, the government promised in the notification that within two years the nurses would be absorbed in the permanent post.

However, they were yet to be absorbed and also the consolidated pay of Rs. 7,700 per month offered to them was far below the minimum wages which is Rs. 18,000 per month.

He further submitted that the work done by the nurses who had gone on strike is the same work done by other nurses in permanent post and hence the concept of equal pay for equal work should be applied.

He also noted that when the Madras High Court directed the association to withdraw the strike and return to work, the association obeyed the order and suspended the strike. However, in the very same order the Court had directed the State to address their genuine grievances. But the State has not bothered to consider their demands, he added.

Wilson also drew the attention of the recommendations of ministry of health and family welfare of central government pursuant to directions of supreme court to fix Rs. 20,000 as salary of nurses in a hospital with 50 beds and for hospitals with 500 beds the salary must be on a par with government nurses.