The Erode District Medical Workers’ Union, affiliated to the AITUC, has urged the State government to direct Crystal Integrated Services Limited to pay contract workers engaged in housekeeping and security services at government hospitals in Erode district the prescribed wages, statutory benefits and Deepavali bonus.
In a representation sent by email to the Chief Minister and the Health Minister, union president S. Chinnasamy and general secretary A. Kalpana alleged that the Mumbai-based company had failed to deploy the full workforce stipulated in its contracts and was paying workers less than the prescribed wages.
The union said 794 workers were required to be deployed across 10 government healthcare institutions in the district. At the Erode Government Headquarters Hospital, only around 225 workers had been engaged against the required strength of 251. It also alleged that workers employed under other schemes were being counted towards the contractor’s workforce, resulting in an increased workload.
The union further alleged that salary slips were not being issued regularly and that workers were not receiving the prescribed PF and ESI benefits, insurance coverage, uniforms, protective equipment and statutory holidays.
It sought ₹5 lakh in compensation for the family of C. Mahalingam, a security guard who died while on night duty at Government Erode Medical College Hospital in Perundurai on August 5, 2026. It also demanded insurance coverage of ₹10 lakh for each contract worker.
The union sought timely payment of wages and the reinstatement of three workers allegedly denied employment. It also demanded that contract workers be allowed to continue in service until the age of 60. Warning of a strike and other forms of protest, the union urged the authorities to direct the company to fulfil its contractual obligations.
Published - October 22, 2026 06:34 pm IST