1,844 Corona Outsource Employees Lose Jobs in Himachal

Sent Home with Termination Orders

Shimla, October 1, 2023: The Himachal Pradesh government has terminated the employment of 1,844 Corona outsource employees. These employees have received termination orders via email, with instructions not to report to hospitals. These individuals were appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide various services in hospitals, including lab testing and other critical functions.

The termination of these employees has led to resentment among them towards the government. On Tuesday, these employees are scheduled to meet with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at the Secretariat to address their concerns.

Within the Legislative Assembly and during protests outside, opposition leaders and BJP legislators had raised this issue prominently. They demanded the reinstatement of these employees. The employees are now faced with joblessness.

Anjali Bharadwaj, President of the Himachal Corona Outsource Employees Union, stated that during the COVID-19 period, the government appointed staff nurses, lab technicians, ward boys, pharmacists, cooks, and drivers. These employees provided services in hospitals without leave, even visiting remote villages to raise awareness about the life-threatening disease. In places where government employees could not reach, outsourced employees filled the gap.

Despite their dedicated service during the pandemic, these outsource employees have not received their salaries for six months. The matter has been brought to the government’s attention, but assurances are yet to be realized.

This situation highlights the challenges faced by many outsourced healthcare workers who played a crucial role during the pandemic but have not received their due compensation or job security.