In a significant move for healthcare workers, the Kerala government has set a strict one-month deadline to finalise and publish revised minimum wages for employees in the private hospital sector. State Labour Minister V Sivankutty issued the directive, aiming to end a prolonged stalemate in wage negotiations.
Government Steps In After Committee Deadlock
Minister Sivankutty instructed the Labour Department Secretary to ensure a draft notification is published in the official gazette within 30 days. This instruction came during a meeting of the Private Hospital Industrial Relations Committee in Thiruvananthapuram. The decision to proceed with a direct government notification was made under Section 5 (1) (b) of the Minimum Wages Act of 1948.
The move follows the failure of a dedicated Minimum Wage Committee to reach a consensus. This committee was formed in October 2023 specifically for wage revision. It undertook extensive groundwork, collecting evidence across 14 districts and holding multiple meetings. However, the process hit a wall due to what the minister described as a lack of cooperation and an adverse stance from management representatives.
Addressing a Decade-Old Wage Structure
Highlighting the urgency, Minister Sivankutty pointed out that most private hospitals in Kerala are still paying their staff based on the wage structure last notified in 2013. He emphasised that these outdated wages are insufficient for workers to support their families under current living conditions.
"The government has a duty to ensure better wages for workers. Discussions cannot be prolonged indefinitely," the minister stated. He clarified that the proposal prepared at the departmental level, which recommends a 60% increase based on the 2013 benchmark, has already been accepted by trade unions. "This proposal does not impose any additional burden on any hospital," Sivankutty added.
Inclusive Revision for Allied Health Professionals
The draft notification will also consider demands raised by various professional organisations representing allied health staff. These include the Indian Association of Physiotherapists, Kerala Private Pharmacists Association, Indian Society of Radiographers & Technologists, and the Indian Speech Language & Hearing Association. This ensures the wage revision will have a broad impact across different job roles within private healthcare facilities.
The meeting was attended by key officials including Additional Labour Commissioner K M Sunil and members of the Private Hospital Minimum Wage Committee. The government's decisive action marks a pivotal step towards improving the financial security of thousands of healthcare workers in Kerala's private sector.
