Wenlock Hospital sacks security personnel, DYFI stages protest

Wenlock Hospital sacks security personnel, DYFI stages protest

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 15: The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), a youth wing of the CPIM, staged a protest against the decision of Wenlock Hospital to sack its security staff. They also demanded higher wages for security personnel in the unorganized sector. 

The district president of the DYFI alleged that the hospital had taken the first step toward privatization by deciding to hire security personnel from private hospitals. He said that the Wenlock Hospital management sacked its security staff without any prior notice. For these reasons, the security staff, which has been working at Wenlock Hospital since many years, decided to protest against the unjust act. More than 60 employees of Wenlock Hospital, majority of whom were security personnel went on strike and demanded higher wages and job security. 

DYFI leader Mr. Sunil Kumar Bajal said that the private security personnel received meagre salaries from their agencies because of the government’s failure to pay the agencies in time. He also said that, if the hospital authorities could pay the agency in a timely manner and as per the national minimum wages standards, hundreds of security personnel all over the state will be benefited. More than 700 security personnel employed by agencies provide security to various government establishments including Wenlock Hospital. These security guards were at present guarding 22 government offices, he said. 

Mr. Bajal said that security personnel are deprived of various social security schemes as well as benefits such as provident fund, group medical insurance, life insurance, financial inclusion system, children’s education fund, and old age pension schemes. Mr. Bajal said that the DYFI is fighting for their cause. 

The protestors positioned themselves at the main gates of Wenlock Hospital on Sunday and left the scene only when the hospital authorities promised to take relevant action.