Nurses threaten to down tools
NURSES have given the Government a 14-day notice to down tools demanding a minimum salary of $750 and a review of various allowances, two days after health workers were paid their 2017 bonuses.
Health workers got their bonus on Wednesday but on Friday nurses issued the Government with a notice to strike if their conditions of service are not improved.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association secretary general Mr Enoch Dongo confirmed the latest development yesterday adding that nurses had a number of grievances they wanted addressed.
“We are happy that the Government has honoured its promise and paid us our bonuses, but we have a number of concerns that we need addressed. Right now as I speak we have give the Government 14 days notice to resolve these issues or we withdraw our services. We want our salaries and allowances reviewed upwards, and we also demand adequate resources in hospitals and clinics,” he said.
The nurses are demanding an upward review of the risk allowance from $40 to $300, uniform allowance from $15 to $150 and night duty allowance from $72 to $300. They are also demanding a basic salary review which will see the lowest employee earning a minimum of $750.
Mr Dongo said the Government should increase nurses’ salaries as their earnings had been eroded by increases in prices of most goods.
“Most hospitals are operating without essential equipment and nurses have to improvise, exposing themselves to risks.
“The work environment for nurses is so frustrating and it’s made worse by poor remuneration. If the Government doesn’t take this seriously we will withdraw our services and that way they will appreciate our importance in the hospital set up”.
Commenting on the bonus payment, he encouraged the Government to start mobilising resources now to ensure that civil servants are paid their 13th cheque on time.
Health Services Board (HSB) director chairperson Dr Lovemore Mbengeranwa could not be reached for comment yesterday.
The health sector has of late been dogged by operational challenges. Doctors only ended their one month strike last week after Government promised to increase their allowances.
Doctors downed tools on March 1 after petitioning Government to address their issues, which included allowance payments and provisions of medicine and equipment at hospitals.