Salary arrears of 348 psychiatric nurses paid — Employment Minister

The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the outstanding salaries of the 348 striking psychiatric nurses have been paid.

Mr Iddrisu, who made this known at a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, recalled a promise he had made that the nurses would receive their outstanding salaries at the end of September 2015.

He said it was rather unfortunate that in spite of that promise, the nurses went on strike and indicated that the industrial action did not cause the outstanding salaries to be paid.

Mr Iddrisu further recalled that when he met the leadership of the nurses two months ago, he informed them that steps were being taken towards the processing of their salaries and added that it was on that basis that he had said they would be paid by the end of September 2015.

 ‘Go back to work’

He entreated the nurses to go back to work and “manage the traumatic and emotional burden” that their patients were enduring.

Nurses at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital declared a strike on October 1 to back their demand for the payment of their salary arrears.

Earlier, on August 3, they had declared a sit-down strike over the arrears but an intervention by the Employment Minister made them return to work, after they had been promised payment in two months.

On October 1, the nurses declared the latest strike, claiming the promise made by Mr Iddrisu had not been fulfilled.

 Salaries of 7,900 nurses

In a related development, Mr Iddrisu said the salaries of a backlog of 7,900 nurses were being processed for payment.

He said the affected nurses should receive payment by the end of October, subject, however, to confirmation that the names on the payroll were those of persons who were at post.

He implored the nurses to appreciate the dilemma of the government, as processes were ongoing for the names of the 7,900 nurses to be keyed into the system for their salaries to be paid.

He, however, indicted that persons who had been employed by metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) without financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance could not be said to be on the government payroll and, therefore, would not be paid.

Writer’s email: victor.kwawukume@graphic.com.gh