Dhangadhi. The doctors and staff working in Seti Provincial Hospital have complained that they are not getting the salary as per the rate determined by the government. About 200 employees working under the program contract have accused of discrimination in wages and service facilities and have warned that they will strike if their demands are not met.
With the end of the situation of budget vacuum for almost three months in the Far West Province, the employees of the province have started getting wages and service facilities. However, the employees working in the Seti Regional Hospital under the program contract have complained that they have not even received the salary as per the rate determined by the government.
They say that even though the government has increased the wages, they have received the same salary at the old rate. One of the employees said that while other employees were getting salary, Tenth bonus and increased salary, they were forced to take the salary as per the rate of the previous financial year.
“Other friends have been remunerated with salary, tenancy bonus and increased dearness allowance. We were paid according to the rate of the previous financial year. We were discriminated against,” he said.
In order to draw attention to the difference in wages, the employees of the program contract met the Minister of Social Development Santosh Thapa Sharma and the Medical Superintendent (MESU) of the hospital on Thursday. He met Hemraj Pandey. An employee who participated in the discussion said that both of them promised to understand more about this matter and not to allow discrimination.
The employees have demanded equality in payment of wages within a few days. They have also warned that they will protest against the hospital administration if their demands are not met. About 200 program contract staff are working in Seti Provincial Hospital, from nursing staff to specialist doctors. They have demanded that they also get the service facilities and increased wages set by the state.
On the other hand, Kishore Shrestha, information officer of the hospital, said that the employees of the program contract complained about the salary and said that this is being discussed. “We are understanding the matter from the ministry. The reply of the ministry will be known later, he said.