Government firm on minimum wages for Nurses

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is firm on its stand that nurses in the state  should be given minimum wages, said Labour Minister Shibu Baby John.  He told reporters after a meeting convened by the Labour and Health Ministers here the other day, to discuss the issues in the nursing sector, that the government would take necessary steps based on the suggestions put forward by the participants in the meeting.The Minister said in a statement here that the management association took a favourable stand to the government demand to pay minimum wages. The minister also asked the association to withdraw the case in the High Court in this regard.  The Minister urged the nurses to resort to strike only as a last step. He also asked them to give a 14-day notice before going for strike. The Minister said that a follow-up meeting would be held on Monday.The Minister said that an industrial relations committee with representatives of trade unions, managements and government would be formed. The government has asked the managements to restrain from punitive actions against the striking nurses.Shibu Baby John said that no institution would be allowed to function in the state flouting government decisions. The government policy is to give salary through bank accounts which will come into effect on March 1. The new minimum wages based on the Balaraman Committee report will also come into effect on June 1, he said.Health Minister Adoor Prakash said that the government wanted the people of the state not to suffer from the issues plaguing the health sector. United Nurses Association, IRNA, AEWNA, private hospital management representatives and central trade union representatives attended the meeting.