KMC temporary health workers staged a protest outside the office of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s Chief Municipal Health Officer on Thursday, seeking salary increases and bonus payments after what they described as a decade without either benefit. The demonstration involved 288 workers employed under the National Health Urban Mission, including clerical assistants, office assistants and staff in other roles.
The workers said they have been working for the civic body for the past 10 years through third-party agency General Security Service Private Limited. According to the employees, their wages have not been increased during this period and they have not received bonuses. They said the prolonged absence of any revision had created financial and other difficulties for the workforce.
The protest was held at the civic health administration office, placing the dispute within the municipal system responsible for coordinating urban health services. The report did not specify the current salaries of the workers, the value of the bonus being sought, or whether the protest affected the functioning of health facilities or public-facing services.
Workers’ representatives Syed Sana and Irfan said employees had approached officials in the concerned department several times over their demands. They alleged that these communications had not resulted in concrete action. The workers have asked the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to take an early decision on salary increases and bonus payments.
The use of a third-party agency is central to the dispute. Although the employees work under the National Health Urban Mission associated with the civic body, they said their formal employment is through General Security Service Private Limited. The report does not establish the contractual terms between the agency and the municipal corporation, or clarify which authority is responsible for approving wage revisions and bonus payments.
Municipal officials have reportedly sought one week to consider the workers’ demands. The employees are now awaiting an initiative within that period. No formal decision, payment commitment or written order from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation was cited in the report.
The dispute highlights the dependence of municipal health programmes on workers whose employment arrangements may involve multiple institutional layers. For residents, the immediate question is whether the protest leads to any disruption in services; for the workers, the next step is whether the civic administration’s request for one week results in a specific response on pay and bonus claims. The reported one-week period is the next milestone in the matter.
