THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Industrial Relations Committee(IRC) will meet here on Monday to take a final decision on wage revision of nurses. Meanwhile, the nurses vowed to intensify their agitation if a concrete decision is not taken on the issue.
Though the IRC meet was scheduled for July 20, the date was advanced as the nurses’ associations said they could not wait. Indian Nurses’ Association general secretary Mohammed Shihab said they will not back down from the demand to implement the minimum wage in accordance with the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed committee.
“We have given the government nearly 17 months to take a decision on the issue. If no decision is taken at the IRC meet on Monday, we will intensify the agitation. The strike will be extended to all districts from Tuesday,” he said.
While the nurses have decided to intensify their strike, the hospital managements said they are not against salary hike and will abide by the IRC decision.
Association of Advanced Speciality Healthcare Institutions’ president and spokesman of hospital managements M I Sahadulla said the managements are not against the salary hike.
But it should be realistic and reasonable and should not affect the healthcare costs, he said. Noting the IRC favours a reasonable hike and is trying to effect a 35 per cent hike in the wages, Sahadulla said the managements will welcome the proposal.
However, the hospital associations have asked the nurses to call off their strike on Tuesday as it will cause considerable hardships to the people, he said. The private hospitals will not be able to admit new patients and will be forced to discharge those undergoing treatment if the strike continues, he said.