Strikers vow action against government
NATIONAL Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) deputy president Mike Shingange said no services will be rendered by community health workers (CHWs) in the North West until their demands are met.
“These workers have been working on a temporary basis for a very long time, rendering very crucial services to our communities. We can never push them away.”
Shingange was addressing over 500 angry workers outside the provincial health department offices in Mahikeng. “We ’ ll fight to protect the workers’ rights. Community health workers are a critical component in the delivery of quality health services, especially primary healthcare.”
The strike follows several engagements with the health department which started last week on all issues affecting community health workers. “We want to protect them for job security so that they can have benefits like medical aids and pension funds.”
Health department spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane said permanent employment of CHWs was a national determination.
“The province is seeking national direction on how to approach this matter. Any decision on this matter will also have to take into account the current fiscal challenges facing the department,” Lekgethwane said.
He said as CHWs stipends amount to just above R1-billion, absorbing them into permanent positions will mean further bloating of the personnel budget.
“It’s for this reason that the department will seek advice and consult extensively guided by a national determination,” he said.