Ambulance services across the state were affected on Monday after workers began a five-day strike. The employees sought the rollback of the four new labour codes and a guaranteed minimum wage, officials said.
The 108 and 102 ambulance workers, associated with the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), also raised concerns about alleged harassment and demanded that it be stopped immediately.
As part of the protest, several workers gathered at Chotta Shimla near the Himachal Pradesh State Secretariat. They raised slogans against the government, accusing it of failing to address their long-pending demands.
CITU State President Vijender Mehra, while addressing the gathering, alleged that pilots, captains and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) working under the MedSwan Foundation — an agency functioning under the National Health Mission — were facing severe exploitation and that the situation must be corrected without delay.
He claimed that many workers were not receiving the minimum wages fixed by the government and were being made to work 12-hour shifts without any overtime payment.
Mehra said it was surprising that such conditions continued despite directions issued by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, the Labour Court, the CJM Court in Shimla and the Labour Office.
He further alleged that employees who spoke against these issues were subjected to mental harassment, while several union leaders were transferred or pressured to resign from their posts.
According to him, some workers had been kept off duty for months without clear reasons, while others were allegedly threatened and denied legally mandated leaves.
Mehra also alleged irregularities in the implementation of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPF) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) benefits. He claimed that contributions from both employer and employee were being deducted from workers’ salaries, leading to a monthly loss of nearly Rs 2,000 for each worker.
He added that the protest would continue until the government ensures minimum wages, provides double overtime pay for 12-hour duties and withdraws the four labour codes.
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