STRIKING nurses
have received their July and August salaries despite the Health Services Board
(HSB’s) no-work, no-pay principle.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enock
Dongo confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that they were paid double their
normal salaries this month to compensate for last month.
“The majority
of nurses who did not receive salaries in July got them this month. It is a
welcome development, but we still feel it was wrong in the first place to
remove striking nurses from the payroll.
“We want our
concerns to be addressed and there is no need to be vindictive. We hope someone
somewhere will see sense and do what is right because our concerns are legitimate,”
Dongo said.
Nurses went on
strike in June demanding US dollar salaries and adequate personal protective
equipment (PPE) in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dongo, however,
reiterated that the nurses would not return to work until the government meets
their demands.
“We remain
greatly disturbed by the non-functioning health sector and people potentially
needlessly dying in their homes. The government has a duty to protect human
life and guarantee health services to citizens,” he added.
A fortnight
ago, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said negotiations for an annual cost of
living adjustment between the government and its employees under the National
Joint Negotiating Council had started.
“We have
started negotiations for annual normal cost of living adjustments, that process
will take us to around September or October and there will be further
adjustments in that regard.
“There will be
special programmes that recognise the work they do and the risk that they take.
“There will be
a special health sector allowance and then there is a special Covid-19 risk
allowance, then there is a US$75 wage balance. So, there is a layer of additional
benefits and these benefits are tax free,” Ncube said.
The return of
striking nurses to the government payroll comes in the wake of a call by Vice
President Constantino Chiwenga, who is now in charge of the Health and Child
Care portfolio, for them to stop their industrial action and give the
government time to address their grievances.
Addressing
farmers at the launch of the Climate-Proofed Presidential Inputs Programme at
Nyabvuti Farm in Guruve on Friday, Chiwenga pleaded for patience.
“We are working
hard to improve our health delivery system at ward, village, district, province
up to referral institutions. We are strengthening our systems so that people
can access medication easily.
“Our health
workers are on strike. We are encouraging them to return to work and save
lives. While we are aware of their grievances, they should also consider saving
lives.
“We are not
blind to your issues. We are working hard to assist, but you should also
consider the lives of patients.
“While we are
addressing your grievances, we cannot expect a solution overnight.
“These
challenges have been accumulating over a long period and will also take a
little bit of time to be addressed,” he said. Daily News
0 comments:
Post a Comment