President Irfaan Ali yesterday announced that all “health care professionals” will now be classified as frontline workers and receive a bonus equivalent to two weeks’ pay as part of his government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ali, while delivering the feature address at the Commissioning of the Leonora Smart Health Care Facility, explained that the reclassification and bonus are part of his September promise to protesting health workers to address their concerns before the end of the year.
In September workers at several public health facilities took to the streets calling for all health workers to be classified as “frontline workers” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore be eligible to receive a risk allowance. They also requested an increase in the risk allowance being offered, access to more personal protective equipment and a raise of pay.
In response government issued a threat to prosecute those who participated in industrial action and a promise to address their concerns via negotiations with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) if proposed strike action was terminated. The strike action was initially suspended for “two weeks” to facilitate these negotiations.
Yesterday, Ali explained that Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony and the health team had attempted to devise a formula to define a frontline worker.
“We sat patiently looking around to see what we [could] do [and] have been able to cut programmes and come up with resources beyond the $150 million (budget allocation for frontline workers),” he explained before asking that citizens trust that government will act in their best interest.
“Salaries will no doubt increase. Allowances will increase and other non-salary benefits will improve because while you have this bonus you are also included in the children’s uniform grant, you are also included in all the social benefits government is giving to society,” the President said, while stressing that things will only get better as Guyana’s economy grows.
There was no mention in the announcement of the GPSU which has been advocating that all health workers to be classified as a ‘Frontline Worker’.
According to the release from the union on October 14 there was general support from the health workers that all categories of health workers must be classified as frontline workers and also must be paid a risk allowance, since the nature of their work requires that all categories of health care workers come into contact with COVID-19 patients, knowingly, or unknowingly, while performing their duties. It reasoned that attendants would be the first line of contact in the chain of events leading up to the patient’s eventual testing and subsequent admission to the COVID-19 Unit where the doctors, nurses and other ancillary staff will continue to provide further supportive care.
The union has been silent since then even as the two-week negotiation timeline stretched into two months.
Ali, meanwhile has also announced as part of a 20,000 scholarship programme “special assistance for the field of health care” specifically public health, nursing, nursing assistant and pharmacist
“Focus on advancing your career and improving yourself,” he advised, explaining that health and education are the key foundation on which the society will advance and democracy is the bedrock on which it will grow.
