Nurses to get salaries through banks in Kerala

In the wake of nurses’ strike across the state, the Kerala government has ordered to disburse salaries of the nurses, working in private sector hospitals through banks.

Complaints have been doing the rounds that several private hospitals are giving paltry salaries, but record fat amounts in their books.

“It has come to the notice of the government that many private hospitals were paying meager wages to nurses and other staff and, at the same time, showing inflated figures in the accounts. The fresh order is aimed at preventing this practice and to ensure that minimum wages are given to them,” labour minister Shibu Baby John said in a statement.

The order reads that private hospitals should provide the labour commissioners the details of the salaries disbursed within 30th of every month. Labour Commissioner will conduct inspections about it. In
case of anomalies, cases will be lodged against the hospital management. All hospital managements have been given strict instructions in this respect.

According to the statistics, till January, 30 pc of the hospitals have fixed minimum wages. The set target is to increase this to 90 pc by the end of this month.

A meeting of management and employees’ organizations has been slated for 29th February to discuss the issues being faced by both sections. Health Minister will also participate in this meeting.

Minister added that new minimum wages will be fixed from June 1st onwards ass per the recommendations of the Balaraman Committee report.

The Committee was appointed by the government to look into the problems being faced by private hospital employees.