THE Namibia Nurses’ Union (Nanu) has declared a dispute with Government after the Ministry of Health refused to reintroduce the old pay rates for work done on Sundays and public holidays.
Nanu Secretary General Abner Shopati told The Namibian yesterday that they had approached the Office of the Labour Commissioner and given them eight days to set up a conciliation board to resolve the dispute. “If the answer is not favourable, we will approach the court to get an interdict against the Ministry of Health,” Shopati said.The Office of the Prime Minister was also served with the same papers through Government attorneys, he said.Nanu decided to take Government to court after nationwide consultations with nurses on whether they should proceed with the action.The Ministry of Health has reduced nurses’ pay rate for Sundays and public holidays by half.The decision came into effect on April 1 this year.Health Permanent Secretary Kalumbi Shangula said earlier that it was done because there were various interpretations of the Labour Act, which had led to the overpayment of nurses in the past.”However, Government introduced a new system that is being used by the Ministry of Finance.We no longer do calculations manually and many people are unhappy because they used to get overpaid,” Shangula said.Nanu claims that the Labour Act says the rate must be double the normal hourly rate and the union obtained a legal opinion on the matter.”If the answer is not favourable, we will approach the court to get an interdict against the Ministry of Health,” Shopati said.The Office of the Prime Minister was also served with the same papers through Government attorneys, he said.Nanu decided to take Government to court after nationwide consultations with nurses on whether they should proceed with the action.The Ministry of Health has reduced nurses’ pay rate for Sundays and public holidays by half.The decision came into effect on April 1 this year.Health Permanent Secretary Kalumbi Shangula said earlier that it was done because there were various interpretations of the Labour Act, which had led to the overpayment of nurses in the past.”However, Government introduced a new system that is being used by the Ministry of Finance.We no longer do calculations manually and many people are unhappy because they used to get overpaid,” Shangula said.Nanu claims that the Labour Act says the rate must be double the normal hourly rate and the union obtained a legal opinion on the matter.
