COVID Helpers Now Struggling to Get Paid
The health department contract employees who worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic putting their lives at risk to help people are now fighting to get their salaries. Even though they did a job during the pandemic many of them feel that the government has forgotten about them.
These employees are very upset. They are asking if the government has forgotten what they did. They say “when we were working and risking our lives we were important. Now that we are not getting paid and our families are struggling does our suffering not matter?”
No Pay for Four Months: Families are Suffering
The employees who are protesting say that they have not gotten paid for four months. Because of this many of them are having trouble paying rent school fees for their kids and paying back loans.
Many workers say that their financial situation is getting worse and worse and many families are in a lot of debt. The employee unions also say that the government is causing an economic problem for thousands of families by not paying salaries on time.
Large-Scale Protest Held in Vijayawada
The contract health workers had a protest in Vijayawada asking the government to pay their pending wages right away. They were holding signs. Shouting slogans showing how angry and disappointed they are.
The protesters were shouting things like:
- “Will our cries of hunger go unheard?”
- “Is this the recognition for our COVID services?”
- “If the government cannot pay salaries, who will support our families?”
Key Demands of the Employees
The contract employees have a demands:
- They want the government to pay them the four months of salary that they are owed
- They want a plan for contract employees
- They want job security because they helped during the COVID-19 pandemic
- They want the government to make sure that salaries are paid on time from now on
“Is This the Reward for COVID Heroes?” – Employees Question Government
The situation with the health department contract employees, who were on the lines, during the pandemic and are now protesting because they have not gotten paid is very concerning. It makes us wonder what the governments priorities are.
The workers are asking the government to fix their problems soon as possible and they are warning that if nothing is done the situation will get even worse. The health department contract employees are still waiting for a solution.
