The services of 29 contract employees at Ernakulam Government Medical College have been terminated

The Directorate of Medical Education terminated the services of 29 contract employees of the Ernakulam Government Medical College (GMC) on Sunday, November 1, leaving their families in the lurch. Employees aged 60 and over have been asked to retire from service from November. They alleged that they were treated unfairly and their services were terminated without proper notice.

Those whose services have been terminated include nursing assistants, pharmacists and terminal staff who have worked there since the government took over the co-operative medical college in 2013. In 2016, the government created 315 posts for such staff. These employees have worked continuously since 2013 without interruption of service. In 2026, the LDF government decided to regularize 214 contract and daily workers working in the GMC, according to union leaders.

“Though we know that we have to discontinue the service after attaining the age of 60, we should have been given proper notice. Instead, we were informed at the last minute,” said Salomi Baby, 63, a native of Kothamangalam.

Harikumar AN, a 64-year-old pharmacist whose services were also terminated, echoed her concerns. “Most people didn’t even know that their services had been terminated. The order was sent out on Saturday (October 31) and everyone was asked to stop going to work from Monday. We don’t even know if we will get our due benefits,” Mr. Harikumar said.

According to GMC sources, the staff had crossed the age of 60 and were not eligible to continue in service. “The decision was communicated to them earlier. Employees whose services were terminated will receive retirement benefits from 2016 and seniority and benefits from 2024. They will receive these benefits when the remaining contractual employees receive benefits after the integration process,” they said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mujeeb Rahman, joint district secretary of the Center of Indian Trade Unions, claimed that the move to terminate staff without recruiting enough staff could affect the functioning of the GMC. “The sudden termination without proper notice has affected staff morale. It has also reduced staffing which has seriously affected the functioning of the hospital. This even raises questions about any move to privatize the hospital,” Mr Rahman said.

Published – 02 Nov 2026 21:57 IST