Karwar: Contract employees of the Health Department staged a protest in Karwar on Thursday demanding equal pay and job security.

More than 300 contract employees from Uttara Kannada district including lab technicians, pharmacy distributors, assistant nurses, staff nurses and doctors staged the protest under the aegis of State Health Department Contract Workers’ Forum district unit.

They took out a protest rally from the Zilla Rangamandir to the deputy commissioner’s office and then staged a dharna in front of the office pressing for their demands. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the State and Union governments through the district administration.

“The number of contract employees working with the Health Department is more than the number of permanent employees. The contract employees work braving many odds and taking considerable risk. However, they do not have job security and respect at the work place. Also, equal pay must be given to them as directed by the Supreme Court in 2016”, workers demanded. The protesters said government should take suitable steps to strengthen Health Department. State government must earmark 15% of its budget to the health sector. The Union government should extend support in this regard. Pay and allowances and pay scale on Haryana model must be implemented in the State. Steps should be taken to regularise the services of the contract workers by taking suitable decisions in the Parliament.

Association district unit president Dr Suhas, secretary U R Chowdar, vice-president Vidya, joint secretary Basavaraj, Treasurer Girish, Manish and others were present.