Striking nurses face the sack

Health minister Kapembwa Simbao has June 24 given striking health workers an ultimatum to report for work by june 29, failure to which they should consider themselves fired for staying away for more than ten days without authority.

Addressing the press Simbao said the workers have been absent for a long time against the terms and conditions of service for public service workers.

“Failure to report for work by the stated dates will lead to disciplinary action. Those who do not report for work by the stated dates should consider themselves dismissed,” he said.

Simbao said retired nurses and other health workers and those who may be looking for employment and are willing to work, should submit applications to the provincial and district offices.

“Qualified nurses from within the southern African region are encouraged to apply for vacancies on local conditions that may be created as a result of nursing staff not reporting for work,” he said.

He said the Government was aware that there were some workers who may not be reporting for work for fear of victimisation by their colleagues and the ministry will ensure there was adequate security to protect them.

The minister said health workers not reporting for work would not be allowed to gather within the hospital grounds starting from June 25. He said following the signing of the collective agreement with the unions, the Government expected health workers to go back to work but the illegal strike had continued despite numerous appeals.

He said the Ministry of Health and the unions had agreed to discuss the other concerns regarding the conditions of service and President Rupiah Banda had assured that a committee would be set up to address the workers’ concerns. Simbao said President Banda also appealed to the conscience of the workers to remind them why they chose to serve the people.

Banda on June 24 said public service workers could not be awarded a pay rise of more than 15 per cent because that would have a negative impact on the economy. He said the Government had in this year’s national Budget set aside money for an 11 per cent salary increment for public service workers which the unions rejected. He said after the unions rejected the 11 per cent increment, the 15 percent that was settled for translated into 48.9 per cent of the K10.6 trillion domestic revenues.