Disappointed employees of the 108 EMRI emergency service will met Health Minister AL Hek on the government’s extension of GVK EMRI’s contract to manage the ambulance service, something the workers have been opposing strenuously.
The Meghalaya EMRI Workers Union (MEMRIWU) want the government to take over the service, citing claims of poor pay, staff shortage and overwork under the private GVK. The contract between the state government and GVK ended on March 31.
Today, MEMRIWU publicity secretary, Joseph Pyngrope, said that they will seek an explanation from Hek on the apparent contract extension.
“Instead of terminating [the contract], the government extended it,” he said, adding that Hek should have reviewed the complaints made by the union.
It came as a shock to the workers when they learnt that GVK’s contract was extended as they were not consulted beforehand. Even if it was inevitable that GVK would kept on board, the union could have at least suggested certain conditions that would have improved the situation for its members, Pyngrope added.
“On what basis was the contract extended? The management harassed us and violated the labour laws. Till now we are facing problems with GVK. We want the contract to be scrapped and extension of the contract will not provide stability to the emergency services in the state,” he added.
