Kerala nurses hit by Covid denied wages in Mumbai

Kerala nurses hit by Covid denied wages in Mumbai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Thiruvananthapuram:30.12.2020

A group of nurses from Kerala voluntarily working in Mumbai hospitals to tackle the Covid-19 crisis have complained that they were denied wages during the leave of absence caused after contracting the infection. They have now sought the Kerala government’s help for the restoration of wages.

A medical team from Kerala had been helping Mumbai hospitals since May and around 50 nurses from the state are working in Covid centres. “We had come along with the medical team in May when there was a shortage of nurses here. We have been working relentlessly and acquired the infection while on duty,” said a nurse.

After going on medical leave, however, they were “denied all medical benefits including medical leave during the period under treatment and quarantine,” said Rohit Krishna, working with a Covid centre at Bandra.

Covid centres in Mumbai have been attached to different hospitals and the nurses working there have entered into a three-month contract with these facilities. “The management, has informed us that ours is a contractual appointment and no employer-employee relationship will be encouraged. Due to the contractual appointment, our wages are much higher than that of other nurses, which is why paid leave could not be sanctioned during the quarantine period,” Krishna said.

These nurses have written to Kerala chief minister and health minister seeking their intervention in resolving the crisis. “We approached the district administration and other health authorities in Mumbai but didn’t get any help. Many of the nurses are keeping silent about the ordeal fearing they might lose the job,” Krishna added.