All Ceylon Nurses' Union (ACNU) will stage a massive protest in front of the Health Ministry on February 23 over what it calls the silence of the health authorities towards their demands.
More tough and countrywide trade union action will follow if the demands are not met , ACNU Chairman Gamini Kumarasinghe said. Addressing media in Colombo yesterday Kumarasinghe said that several discussions were held on February 20 last year with the Health Minister and health officials in relation to eight demands including increases of allowances, nurses' education, etc. and this was reminded to them again two weeks ago. But no response has been forth coming.
According to Kumarasinghe, at the moment nurses get a common allowance of Rs. 3000 which is paid to 17 other grades in the health service and the Health Minister promised to give an allowance of Rs. 5000 for accidents, transport, night duty etc. but this promise remains unfulfilled . He(Minister) also promised to increase the over time payment by Rs. 50 but he did not issue the relevant circular to do so. Now the nurses get only Rs. 100 per hour for over time. Kumarasinghe pointed out that the entire health service is weakening and on the path towards destruction due to the negligence of the health authorities and their negative attitude towards uplifting nurses' service.
The country needs a total of 64,430 (according to the WHO's standards) trained nurses at the moment but only 27,000 are in active service.
Add new comment