Patna: Following a demonstration at Niyojan Bhawan on Nehru Path on Wednesday, the PMCH Ward Attendant Workers’ Sangharsh Morcha announced the suspension of its three-day strike. The breakthrough came after officials from the labour department ordered an immediate inquiry into allegations of a massive “wage loot” involving a private outsourcing agency and the hospital administration.Hundreds of ward attendants, under the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), had been on strike since Monday, alleging non-payment of wages for five months and violation of the minimum wage fixed by the government.AICCTU national secretary Ranvijay Kumar said that while the legally mandated minimum wage (after EPF-ESI deductions) stood at Rs9,891 per month, the agency was paying workers only Rs8,000.Lending legislative support to the agitation, MLC Shashi Yadav strongly condemned the contract system for permanent govt roles and vowed to raise the issue of exploitation of health workers in the House. She urged the govt to blacklist defaulting outsourcing agencies.According to an official press release issued by the PMCH Ward Attendant Workers Sangharsh Morcha, the strike was called off following successful negotiations with deputy labour commissioner Ranvir Ranjan, who assured a swift inquiry and strict legal action if violations were found. The workers confirmed that they would return to duty from Thursday but warned of renewed agitation if the assurances were not fulfilled.Patients and attendants had to bear the impact of the strike as ward attendants perform several essential duties, including changing bed sheets, towels and clothes, carrying medicines and assisting in other ward-related work.