BLLAHWU Presses Govt On Uniform Allowance
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday October 19, 2021 06:00
In a recent letter written by the union’s secretary-general, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa addressed to the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the union raised concern with the ministry for lack of provision of uniform to health care workers such as health education assistants (HEA), healthcare assistants (HCA), hospital and nurse orderly, porters, general duty assistants, cleaners and drivers.
The union said government had ceased to provide this group of workers with uniform even thought they are mandated to wear such uniform for identity reasons. “We note that in presiding on this matter, the ministry was selective rather than addressing the matter holistically more so that the predicament cuts across other cadres such as HCAs, HEAs, auxiliaries etc,” stated Motshegwa. Motshegwa added that the union was in cognisant of the ever-increasing prices of clothing and other variable factors when it proposed the P500 per month as ideal for the uniform for this group of health care workers.
The union proposes that P500 be paid in retrospect from 2015, the time in which the ministry ceased to provide uniform. Earlier this year, there were also media reports that about 8,000 nurses were threatening to protest over government’s failure to pay them uniform allowance.
The ministry then affirmed and re-assured its commitment to pay the affected nurses their uniform allowances following engagements with the Botswana Nurses Union. Motshegwa said it would have been cordial for unions if all unions engaged rather than each union coming up with its figure for its members, as it has been the procedure and practice.
Nonetheless, he said they had to do it for their members. There have also been complaints from the healthcare workers over lack of provision of personal protective equipment, especially during the fight against COVID-19.