MELPWU threatens strike over 2000 unemployed medical lab scientists

The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers' Union (MELPWU) has launched a demand on the government for the immediate employment of over 2,000 qualified medical laboratory science professionals who are currently idling at home due to the lack of financial clearance for their recruitment.

The union is asking the government to provide urgent financial clearance for the recruitment of the qualified medical laboratory scientists, without which the union would undergo a series of industrial actions.

MELPWU, in a statement issued at the May Day parade at the Black Star Square in Accra, also demanded expedited action by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to conclude negotiations with the union on their conditions of service.

Failure to address their two demands, the union has threatened, in the statement, signed by Dr Cephas Kofi Akortor, General Secretary of MELPWU, to embark on the strike.

“We hereby issue a firm ultimatum to the FWSC that if by 20th May, 2024 the Employer fails to conclude negotiations with the union regarding the conditions of service for our members, and provide financial clearance for the unemployed medical laboratory science professionals, we will have no choice but to advise ourselves on the necessary steps we have to take to ensure that our rights and interests are safeguarded,” it said.

According to the union, the continued neglect of their concerns undermines the morale of medical laboratory science professionals and jeopardizes the quality of healthcare services provided to the public.

Buttressing their demand for recruitment of the large number of unemployed medical science lab professionals, the union noted that unemployed professionals are highly skilled individuals who have invested years of rigorous training and education to qualify for their profession, only to find themselves unemployed.

“They continue to spend money every year to take part in CPD programs and keep their licenses active in order to fulfil employment conditions,” it said, adding that the shortage of qualified medical laboratory science professionals in the healthcare facilities across the country has compelled medical facility heads to engage the services of some of the unemployed lab scientists, but underpaying them against provisions of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).

“It is imperative that urgent action is taken to address this situation and provide them with the opportunity to contribute their expertise to the healthcare sector,” the union stated.

Explaining the implications of the absence of their conditions of service, it said “Without clear guidelines and provisions that address issues such as workload, remuneration, career progression, and workplace safety, our members are left vulnerable to exploitation and unfair treatment at the workplace.

“Despite our desperate efforts to negotiate with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), we are unhappy with the lack of urgency and progress,” the statement stressed.

In addition, MELPWU commended all workers, especially those in the health sector, for their sacrifices, and called on the government to prioritize investment in the training, development, and deployment of specialists and doctor of medical laboratory science programs in all the public universities in Ghana to strengthen healthcare and diagnostic systems, as a measure to improve patient safety and overall outcomes.