Hundreds of outsource cleaning workers at Tripura’s main referral hospital, Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC)  and GB Hospital staged a protest in front of the hospital on Tuesday, demanding immediate release of their pending salaries for October and November.

Carrying placards and posters, the agitating workers, many of them women, raised slogans against non-payment of wages and accused authorities of negligence. The protesters, affiliated with ‘Akhil Bharatiya Safai Mazdoor Sangh’, claimed that despite repeated appeals to higher authorities, including the Residential Medical Officer and the owner of the outsourced agency, their demands remained unmet.

For several years, over 500 cleaning workers at AGMC and GB Hospital were employed through Sulabh Sanitation, an outsourced agency. However, after the agency was replaced recently, issues with delayed payments started, said one of the protestors.

In addition to clearing pending dues, the protestors also demanded a hike and regularization of their monthly salaries. They also sought the replacement of the current outsourcing agency, holding it responsible for their irregular payments.

The workers also urged the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to intervene and resolve their crisis, emphasizing their financial struggles with the year end approaching.

They also lodged complaints before the District Magistrate (DM), Director of Health Services and Director of Labour Department and medical superintendent of the hospital.

Issuing a 48-hours ultimatum, the workers warned of intensified protests if their dues were not cleared immediately.