DIRECT employees of the Ministry Health and Medical Services working at the Kilu’ufi Hospital in Auki, Malaita province has staged a peaceful protest, demanding the hospital management to pay their outstanding allowances.
The peaceful protest was based on the demand for payment of dirty allowances, danger allowances and special duties allowances.
The protest group included the nurse aid, domestic workers, grounds men, drivers, securities and microscopists working at hospital.
It was staged at the compound from 9am to 10:30am yesterday.
Chairman of the Health Direct Employees Union Patrick Baura said, the hospital management breached the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on the 7th of March 2013.
He said, if they denied budget for these allowances, why they signed this MOU.
He questioned the management of the hospital, why they denied there is no budget for this allowances?
“Why the management continues on recruitment of new staff, fencing of Kilu’ufi hospital area and engaging contractors to renovate hospital staff houses and yet neglected the staff who are working hard each day.”
He also questioned, why there was no supplementary budget to meet the extra allowances.
“These issues have been raised more than three years now, but there is no positive response” Mr Baura said.
The group said, if nothing is done to sort out the issue, a 14 days strike notice will be issued.
Supervising Director of Kilu’ufi hospital Mark Maeliau, Principal accountant at the hospital Ellen Matagani and supervising hospital secretary Fifanti met three representatives from the group to discuss the issue.
And it was pointed out to them that budget for recruitment, fencing and renovation work are totally different budget.
A solution was reached after the meeting in which the MOU signed on 7th March 2013 and with another MOU signed in 2010 needs amendment from the responsible authorities.
Mr Maeliau said they will take some of this into consideration and will be address it.
He calls on all employees to return to work and not to take things into their own hands.
By WILLIAM EKOTANI
In Auki
