Salary arrears of nurses would be paid this month – Gov’t

Labour Relations Minister Haruna Iddrisu says striking nurses at the psychiatric and other hospitals must return to post to facilitate payment of their salary arrears.

He assured that all arrears owed nurses would be paid at the end of October, provided that their data is properly keyed in by a joint human resource team from the Ministry of Health, Audit Service and Controller and Accountant General’s office.

He said the Auditor General and Accountant General’s offices have been tasked to do due diligence on the workers to ensure that the nurses reported to their duty post and actually worked during the period.

“The government needs to satisfy itself that indeed that category of nurses are at post, they have worked for the period to which they are claiming arrears,” he said

Over the last three months, government has been addressing agitations on the labour front in the health sector. Days after psychiatric nurses embarked on strike, over 7000 unpaid nurses and midwives also declared nationwide strike. Their members were owed salaries, some dating back to three years.

Mr. Iddrissu warned at a press conference today that government will remain resolute and stick to its policy not to pay workers who embark on strike.

“I cannot justify their strike action neither in law nor morals, even if you want to strike follow the laid down procedure per the Labour Act of Ghana.

“It is new government policy and our policy is that we will not pay for striking workers.”

Meanwhile, spokesperson for the psychiatric nurses, Emma Febiri has told Joy News they had a meeting with their administrators and were shown document indicating that government has paid the arrears.

He indicated that they have no reason to doubt the administrators. They would therefore meet tomorrow to inform the larger body and possibly review their action, which is biting hard at the various health facilities.