KOLLAM: The inspection currently carried out in private hospitals in the state by hospital squads formed by the Labour Department has found serious violations in implementation of Minimum Wages Act, Kerala Industrial Establishments National and Festivals Holidays Act and Shops and Commercial Establishments Act. With the inspections being complete in major hospitals in the state, the evolving picture is a fine testimony for the recent nurses’ agitation in the state. The squads at various districts have completed inspection at 611 hospitals till date and the reports on inspections at 438 hospitals have been published. The reports published by three Regional Joint Labour Commissioners (Kollam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode) revealed that minimum wages were not paid to nearly 70 per cent of nurses in the south and central Kerala. Inspections completed at 156 hospitals in Kollam region revealed that only 22.10 per cent of employees received minimum wages in Thiruvananthapuram, 31 per cent in Pathanamthitta, 38 per cent in Alappuzha district and 45 per cent in Kollam district. The situation is slightly better in Ernakulum region after completion of inspection at 130 hospitals. However, in Thrissur where the report of only 10 hospitals has been published, nearly 80 per cent employees are denied minimum wages, thanks to two major hospitals with none of its 1000 plus employees availing benefits of minimum wages. Ernakulam district stands out with 60 per cent employees getting minimum wages. Interestingly, in Kollam, the epicentre of the nurses’ agitation in the state, the major hospitals expect two (which includes a hospital which witnessed nurses’ strike), paid minimum wages to majority of its employees. In other southern districts, medium-sized hospitals fared better than large hospitals in implementing the Act.Kollam Regional Joint Labour Commissioner Veeran Kumar said that at most hospitals more than a quarter of employees were not entered in the registers and hence were denied benefits like PF and ESI. ‘’Many hospitals keep employees, especially nurses, as trainees following their internship period. Even hospitals where minimum wages implemented, these trainees are denied benefits,’’ he said. Malabar Fares BetterThere is a striking difference, when it comes to the Kozhikode region. About 61 per cent of employees were found availing minimum wages in Kozhikode and Kannur districts, when the inspection was half way through in the districts. Wayanad hospitals paid minimum wages to 69 per cent of its employees. Kasaragod district, however, showed a low level, with just 26 per cent employees receiving minimum wages. Kozhikode Regional Labour Commissioner E Venu said that the inspections underway are having a major impact in the region, as many hospitals have shown consent to implement minimum wages. ‘’By this month many of the hospitals are expected to implement minimum wages and three shift duties for the employees. Thus there will be a great difference in the present findings,’’ Regional Labour Commissioner said. Labour Department sources said that final picture will emerge within the next few weeks and after a detailed assessment of the reports. Random inspections will be conducted in the hospitals to find whether the directives following the present inspections are complied with.
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