Private contract workers, including sanitation staff, staged a protest at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, demanding a salary hike, reduced workload and weekly holidays on Monday.
More than 500 contract workers are employed at the hospital to carry out sanitation work and assist nurses in various departments, including the paediatric and general wards.
The workers alleged that they had not received a salary hike despite repeatedly raising the issue with the private contractor. They also claimed that a woman employee was dismissed after seeking a pay increase and that the company was adopting an arbitrary approach by terminating those who questioned its practices.
Women sanitation workers further alleged that they were not provided with basic safety equipment. They claimed that protective gear was distributed to them only for a day when Chief Minister Joseph Vijay visited the hospital to launch the gold-ring scheme for newborns.
The workers said they were not given weekly holidays and that their salaries were deducted if they took leave. They alleged that the contractor's conduct left them unable to raise their grievances.
Some of them broke down in tears while describing their working conditions to authorities.
