Health workers resume work

Accra, March 13, GNA - The Health Workers Group (HWG) of the Greater Accra Regional branch on Tuesday reported back to work after calling off their strike following a meeting with their leaders on Monday.

A visit to some hospitals by the GNA revealed that the workers - nurses, pharmacists and midwives - were busy at work. The health workers resumed work after deliberations on the issues relating to the strike action as well as the delay in the implementation of the expected health workers group salary structure. They also considered the directive from the National Labour Commission asking them to resume work.

Speaking to the GNA, Mr Raymond Tetteh, Chairman of the Government Health Workers Group, said the strike action was called off because of the respect for the leadership even although the Appellate Body had taken a long time to address their grievances. He noted that the health workers, who began the strike on March 5, had resumed work and were awaiting the submission of the final report by the Appellate Body by 31st March.

Mr Tetteh said government should put in place the necessary mechanisms to fast track the implementation of the Appellate Body's final report within the shortest possible time. The Ministry of Health in a letter to health facilities said any worker who was not at post by March 6 should consider himself or herself dismissed.

A latter signed by Lepowura M.N.D. Jawula, Chief Director, directed all heads of health institutions to compile a list of recalcitrant staff to be forwarded to the Controller and Accountant-General to stop their salaries immediately.