By Staff Writer
WORKERS intending to embark on industrial action are not well meaning and have other motives against their country’, Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora has said.
He made the remarks while addressing journalists on Wednesday.
“I don’t think any well-meaning Zimbabwean would do that.
“Those who want to engage in industrial action have other motives other than not serving their country’s health service. We called them to discuss what they want the government to do for them and if not, may they tell us who is capable,” he said.
The Health Minister said he is looking forward to engaging with the workers first as their concerns cannot be addressed “by the click of a finger”.
Added Mombeshora, “We are on record as the Ministry of Health stating that we are looking into their concerns of bettering their conditions of service. As I said, the government does not operate in a manner where if a grievance is raised, by the click of a finger they are addressed. It weighs all workers’ issues and finds means to ensure that their working conditions are improved. I hope they come to us for a dialogue and we take their matters to the Health Service Commission.
“First thing to do is to take note of these concerns, they are then categorized. The Ministry of Finance then considers how it can tackle them according to available funds. These issues cannot be solved in a day.”
The Health Apex Council, an amalgamation of labour unions within the sector in a letter dated February 26 gave the government a 48-hour-ultimatum to address their grievances.
The concerns raised by the healthcare workers include non-availability of work equipment, non-review of health sector-specific allowances, very low basic salary, and housing and transport allowances which have been heavily eroded by inflation.
