SHILLONG: The state government has prohibited strikes by the field staff of GVK EMRI, who operate the 108 Emergency Services in the state, for a period of six months with immediate effect.
A notification in this regard was issued here on Friday.
A statement issued by the 108 Emergency Services, which caters to medical, police and fire emergencies, on Friday said the government had brought the services under Meghalaya Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA), 1980 ( as amended ) declaring these as “essential services” for the purpose of the said act through a notification issued on June 4, 2010.
The statement added that in view of recent media reports with regard to strike notice by the 108 field staff, the state government has promulgated MESMA with immediate effect prohibiting strikes.
It said that any disruption of the 108 emergency response services will be dealt with in accordance to MESMA.
The statement also added that GVK EMRI state office has called the field staff for discussions several times, but it did not materialise and that the office also issued official letters to all the field staff.
“A section of employees reported for discussion and were apprised on the status of resolution of various grievances and they understood the current status,” the statement said while adding that the services is open to discussions and working as a team with all employees to provide quality and safe emergency response services to the citizens of the state.
It also stated that the state office has taken up proposals through a number of meetings with state government at secretary, additional chief secretary, health minister and chief minister levels for resolution of issues since beginning of 2018 and the chief minister had assured to resolve the new wages and replacement of ambulances at the earliest in the last meeting held recently. GVK EMRI Meghalaya also appealed to all field staff to call off the protests with immediate effect and work towards ensuring quality emergency services that is dedicated to the mission of saving lives.
Sources, meanwhile, said the state government has given the NHM in-principle go ahead to pay the staff as per new minimum wages.
