Kathmandu. The public health laboratory employees working in all 136 local levels of Madhes province have started a protest saying that they have not received salary and other services for seven months.
They staged a dharna in front of the office of the Provincial Public Health Laboratory in Janakpurdham to address their demands. They said that they have not received their salary and festival allowance since last November.
Anil Mahato, a laboratory worker, said that even as the current financial year was about to end, the extension and renewal process of the employees was not completed, so they had to go into street struggle.
Shahid Rain, the coordinator of the Joint Struggle Committee, complained that despite repeatedly informing the relevant agencies about their problems in writing and verbally, there was no hearing. The agitating employees have called the attention of the Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Labor and Transport, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning and the Public Health Laboratory of Madhes Province to fulfill their demands immediately.
They have demanded payment of withheld salary, renewal of service contract, dress allowance, risk allowance and dearness allowance. The laboratory workers have also warned that if their demands are not addressed immediately, the movement will become stronger and tougher.