Pvt Hospital Nurses Strike For Rs 40,000 Minimum Wage Demand

Thiruvananthapuram: A section of nurses working in private hospitals in Kerala went on strike on Wednesday, demanding a minimum monthly salary of Rs 40,000 and implementation of various pending safeguards without further delay. United Nurses Association (UNA), which called for a strike, also organized a march to the secretariat here as part of the protest.

Their salaries were last revised in 2018 and have since become inadequate due to the rising cost of living, according to protesters.

They alleged that although the state government had ordered salary hike in 2023 following a protest under the auspices of UNA, it has not been implemented effectively so far.

One of the protesting nurses said she wanted the government to implement a clear pay system for private hospital nurses, as stated in the Nursing Council regulations.

“The situation of private sector nurses in the state is deplorable. They receive different salaries in various hospitals of the state as per the decision of the relevant managements,” the nurse told reporters here.

He said one of their biggest demands was to fix their basic salary at Rs 40,000.

The nurse said, “Today, the nursing sector is turning towards the business world. There is a brain drain in the sector. The majority of qualified and experienced nurses go abroad in search of good salaries and living conditions.” he said.

Protesters said the strike would affect the functioning of private hospitals but not emergency rooms.