Review decision to lay us off – casual workers plead
A number of casual health workers across the country are pleading with government to reconsider the decision to dispense with their services.
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According to them, it will be unfair for government to lay them off since they have been engaged with the Ministry of Health for several years and were looking forward to be regularised. Besides, they have built their lives on the jobs, even if it did not pay them much.
Speaking to Citi FM, one casual worker expressed his frustration. He said, “…some of us have families. I have about three children. Look at the money we’re paid at the end of the month; GH¢200…some of us went to school but because of the unemployment rate that is why we joined the train. So please we are pleading with the government that if that is its intention, it should look at it again.”
The Ministry of Health in a letter dated April 14, 2014 directed the management of public hospitals and health centres throughout the country to outsource some services and terminate the engagement of others.
The directive was issued following moves by some of the casual workers, who have been engaged for between four and 12 years, to get their employment status regularised.
The letter which was signed by the Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, said the services to be outsourced should include those of utility workers, comprising labourers, security men, watchmen and cleaners whose services were mostly required at the main operational levels of health centres and hospitals.
For health aids or assistants, it asked the managers of health facilities to terminate their engagement after paying them their three-month salaries.
Section 10 (75) of the Labour Act 2003 demands of employers to regularise the engagement of temporary workers who are employed by the same employer for a continuous period of six months and more
