Health trade unions have warned that they will launch a massive strike on March 17 if the government does not halt the cuts in allowances and other reductions in the health sector by March 15.
Union representatives stated that the government has not yet invited them for discussions regarding these issues.
The President of the Government Nursing Officers’ Association, Saman Ratnapriya, stated that over 40,000 nursing officers are facing severe difficulties due to these cuts.
He further emphasized that if the government does not immediately stop the cuts in nursing officers’ promotions, restore overtime allowances to the previous amount, and ensure that government holiday allowances are paid at a 20:1 ratio of the monthly salary, they will proceed with the strike on March 17.
He also noted that although the government had promised to facilitate discussions with the Ministry of Finance within a week, this commitment has not yet been fulfilled.
Meanwhile, Ravi Kumudesh, convener of the Health Professionals’ Federation, stated that if the government does not maintain the overtime ratio at 160:1 and the holiday allowance at 20:1, large-scale trade union action will be inevitable on March 17.
He further warned that if health trade unions go on strike, government authorities must take full responsibility for any inconvenience caused to patients.
