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By Almot Maqolo.

HARARE – Zimbabwe healthcare workers have withdrawn their services with immediate effect citing incapacitation owing to low remuneration.

In a letter directed to Health Services Board (HSB) Executive Director Ruth Kaseke, the Health Apex said the current ZWL3000 salaries cannot sustainably take care of the families of health care workers under the prevailing socio-economic situation.

The Health Sector Specific Allowances which were awarded backdated to 1 January 2020, the Health Apex said, were not paid according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) of 2020.

“That back pay has been eroded by inflation. To that end the Healthcare workers are economically incapacitated to continue reporting for duty until the remuneration package is reviewed to their satisfaction,” Health Apex said.

The government yesterday said all civil servants will be paid a flat, non-taxable, Covid-19 allowance of USD75.00.

“However, we as health care workers await for a communique based on CBA on our allowances pegged in US dollars. Our members have rejected the current offer of USD75.00 with the contempt it deserves.”

The Health Apex position suggested a need for a Cost of Living Adjustment in the second of 2020. Sadly up to now, it said, no formal communication has been received from the employer by way of writing or convening of the HSBNP.

“The Healthcare workers demand that: salaries revert back to the 1st October 2018 digits that were quoted in USD which is a stable currency that can store value of that salary. In that way, pensions, savings, medical aids, funeral policies will not continue to be eroded.

“This letter serves to inform you that the health care workers as you might have witnessed have already taken matters into their hands and have withdrawn their services.

“Therefore we would like to officially communicate as the Health Apex that health workers have withdrawn their services with immediate effect until our demands have been met,” it said.

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