PGI contract workers observe hunger strike over non-payment of wages

Munjal further alleged that a written assurance given by the PGIMER administration on August 12 had not been honoured, leading to widespread anger among contract workers. Other demands include maternity leave and medical benefits for women contract staff, payment of a bonus, reinstatement of four security guards removed in November 2024, and parity in facilities with regular employees.

The JAC warned that if no resolution is reached within the next two to three days, it will chalk out further action, including another one-day collective hunger strike in the first week of January.

A statement issued by the PGIMER said that its administration successfully maintained full operational capacity despite the strike. “Due to a robust contingency plan deployed by the administration, patient care across all departments remained entirely unaffected,” the institute said in the statement.

The services, including OPD, indoor, operation theatre, emergency, trauma, diagnostics, and others, remained unaffected, the statement added.

A total of 8,770 patients were seen in the OPD, and 166 in the Emergency and Trauma department. Around 100 new patients were admitted, and 137 surgeries were performed. The majority of outsourced workers continued to perform their duties, the institute claimed.