The Consolidated Government Nurses' Federation will stage a demonstration on June 16 to demand that nurses recruited on a contract basis be made permanent employees. At present, once they complete their diploma in nursing, the nurses are hired by the government on a contract basis.
“We face several problems since we are not permanent employees. We are paid poorly and not entitled to any of the benefits. The government should abandon the process of recruiting nurses on contract basis,” said P. Jayakumar, general secretary of the Federation.
There are only two or three nurses in Primary Health Centres, leading to their working around the clock. Moreover, the nurses do not get maternity leave and are forced to join work immediately after deliveries, he said.
To draw the attention of the State government to their issues, they will protest at Memorial Hall on Saturday at 10.30 a.m.