We can't negotiate under duress; gov't appeals to doctors to return to work

Government has described as unlawful a strike action declared by health workers, particularly doctors and has appealed to them to return to work.

Labour and Employment Minister Haruna Iddrisu told Joy FM's Newsnite programme Monday the "action of the doctors is unlawful. We cannot negotiate under coercive environment."

The doctors declared a strike last week with the threat of resigning en masse if their conditions of service is not finalised.

They announced the strike shortly after a scheduled meeting with government negotiators ended in a deadlock on Thursday.

Part of their demands included 40% of basic salaries as accommodation allowance per month, 20 per cent as core duty facilitation allowance, 30% clothing allowance, 20% maintenance allowance, 20% utility allowance, 50% as professional allowance and 25 special risk allowance and vehicle tax exemption to doctors.

The proposal has been condemned severally by government spokespersons some of whom have described the demands as outrageous.

Even though the doctors have made some compromises nothing concrete has been achieved thus far and the doctors are still out of the consulting rooms threatening to resign en masse if their demands are not met.

In a road map, the doctors are withdrawing their OPD services for a week after which emergency services will also be withdrawn if government fails to address their grievances.

A week after emergency services have been withdrawn, the doctors said they will then resign en masse if nothing substantive is achieved at the negotiating table.

The consequences of the strike have been disastrous.

As if to make matters worse, Pharmacists also declared a strike Monday following disagreements with government over the implementation of the Single Spine Pay Policy.

They claimed the new pay policy has made them worse off.

Speaking to the issues, Labour Minister Haruna Iddrisu said it was rather disappointing that the doctors, in the middle of negotiations decided to withdraw part of their services.

He said the strike is disastrous for the country because if the outstanding issue is resolved the lives that are lost as a result of the strike cannot be recovered.

According to him, the doctors made some 14 demands; some we are able to accommodate; some partially, others we were not able to accommodate at all.

He would rather the doctors return to the negotiating table so the differences will be ironed out.

On the issues of the Pharmacists, the Labour Minister also implored the Pharmacists to return to work as government works tirelessly to resolve the matter.