Contract health staff in Andhra Pradesh pause their strike after discussion with officials

Contract health workers in Andhra Pradesh have ceased their strike following a meeting with government officials on Saturday, October 10. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Medical and Health Contract Employees had initiated a duty boycott on October 6 after persistent demands for regularization of their services and payment of gross salary were not met.

Despite several discussions with the government, the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare only granted a few non-financial requests, such as ex-gratia payments for contract health workers' families who lost their lives during the pandemic and radiation leave for radiographers. However, the government refused to meet the JAC's main demands of regularization and gross salary payment due to the state's financial instability.

On Saturday, JAC members met with health officials, including Commissioner K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu, to discuss these issues. The JAC had also demanded a 30% incentive based on the existing basic pay for contract employees. Following a positive response from the officials who said a special committee would examine the 30% incentive demand, the JAC decided to temporarily halt the strike.

The JAC clarified that it did not withdraw its major demands, but the decision allowed the government to address the issues through discussions. All contract staff in the department across the state are expected to resume duties from October 11.