Services disrupted at RG Kar Hospital as 305 contractual workers strike over unpaid salaries

Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is facing a major operational crisis after around 305 contractual workers stopped work demanding payment of two months’ pending salaries. Since Friday morning, the workers have been staging a protest by surrounding the superintendent’s office, leading to partial disruption in multiple critical departments and causing inconvenience to patients.

Despite being present during the morning shift, the contractual staff—employed under a private agency—refused to perform any duties, maintaining a “no work without pay” stance. Their absence has severely affected essential services such as patient movement, sanitation, and logistical support within wards. Nursing staff, struggling to cope with the additional burden, have formally written to the ward master, warning that routine operations may soon be affected.

In their communication, nurses highlighted that without support staff to handle tasks like transporting patients, arranging surgical equipment, and managing ward logistics, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain normal functioning. They cautioned that several procedures, including operations, may have to be halted if the situation continues. Departments such as gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, and oncology have already begun experiencing disruptions.

The protesting workers have blamed the agency for failing to clear dues, while the agency claims that it has not received approximately ₹1.2 crore from the government, leading to the delay in salary payments. Hospital authorities have called an urgent meeting to resolve the issue, but with workers present yet not functioning, concerns are growing that services could deteriorate further if the deadlock is not resolved quickly.