Union says hospital job cuts unfair
Members of the Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) have accused a firm contracted by the health ministry of gross unfairness and discrimination after their contracts were allegedly "prematurely" and "illegally" terminated.
Although they were employed by the contractor, they accused the ministry of failing to ensure that they would be considered for permanent employment post-Covid-19.
According to the union's secretary general, Matheus Haakuria, workers employed by Adaptic Investments were never employed as Covid-19 volunteers but were wrongly labelled as such.
During a meeting on Sunday, he further claimed that the cleaners were enticed to work for the company voluntarily, in the hope of being considered for permanent positions.
Hope for jobs
"The workers rendered cleaning services to the Katutura State Hospital.
"After the service agreement between the ministry and Adaptic ended, the workers were enticed by the contractor to keep rending their services voluntarily," he claimed.
Haakuria alleges that the ministry exploited the workers for two years between 2017 and 2019, while working without pay, hoping to be employed in the future.
The union is demanding back pay for these two years.
A representative for Adaptic Investments, who did not want to be named, claimed their contract ended at the end of November 2017, hence they could not be held liable for anything that transpired afterwards.
Selling dreams
In August 2020, the workers were offered fixed-term contracts by the ministry that were renewed upon expiry.
The union highlighted that subsequent contracts had clauses requiring the workers to perform duties related to the impact of the pandemic.
"These workers were not employed because of Covid-19, thus they were not Covid volunteers. Their current contracts end in December, but the ministry has decided to terminate their contracts on Monday, 31 October," the union said.
Economics
The ministry has blamed the unfavourable financial climate, the decline in Covid-19 cases, and a repeal of Covid regulations in August for its decision to terminate the contracts.
Haakuria said those excuses are weak and far from the truth.
"The workers are not Covid-19 volunteers. They started working at Katutura Hospital before the outbreak. Secondly, the financial position of the ministry is sound, which is why they are constantly recruiting new cleaners," he said.
The union has called on the ministry to investigate the recruitment process at the state hospital.
Furthermore, to retract the termination letters and change the fixed-term contract to permanent contracts.
Although they were employed by the contractor, they accused the ministry of failing to ensure that they would be considered for permanent employment post-Covid-19.
According to the union's secretary general, Matheus Haakuria, workers employed by Adaptic Investments were never employed as Covid-19 volunteers but were wrongly labelled as such.
During a meeting on Sunday, he further claimed that the cleaners were enticed to work for the company voluntarily, in the hope of being considered for permanent positions.
Hope for jobs
"The workers rendered cleaning services to the Katutura State Hospital.
"After the service agreement between the ministry and Adaptic ended, the workers were enticed by the contractor to keep rending their services voluntarily," he claimed.
Haakuria alleges that the ministry exploited the workers for two years between 2017 and 2019, while working without pay, hoping to be employed in the future.
The union is demanding back pay for these two years.
A representative for Adaptic Investments, who did not want to be named, claimed their contract ended at the end of November 2017, hence they could not be held liable for anything that transpired afterwards.
Selling dreams
In August 2020, the workers were offered fixed-term contracts by the ministry that were renewed upon expiry.
The union highlighted that subsequent contracts had clauses requiring the workers to perform duties related to the impact of the pandemic.
"These workers were not employed because of Covid-19, thus they were not Covid volunteers. Their current contracts end in December, but the ministry has decided to terminate their contracts on Monday, 31 October," the union said.
Economics
The ministry has blamed the unfavourable financial climate, the decline in Covid-19 cases, and a repeal of Covid regulations in August for its decision to terminate the contracts.
Haakuria said those excuses are weak and far from the truth.
"The workers are not Covid-19 volunteers. They started working at Katutura Hospital before the outbreak. Secondly, the financial position of the ministry is sound, which is why they are constantly recruiting new cleaners," he said.
The union has called on the ministry to investigate the recruitment process at the state hospital.
Furthermore, to retract the termination letters and change the fixed-term contract to permanent contracts.
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