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FINALLY: SOME STRIKING RFM WORKERS PAID

By Bongiwe Dlamini | 2024-04-28

Finally, some healthcare workers at Eswatini Nazarene Health Institution (ENHI) have been paid.
The workers started receiving their salaries around 4pm yesterday.

This follows that the healthcare workers from the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital and other health centres under the ENHI downed their tools as disbursement of their April salaries was delayed.

The workers stopped working on Wednesday which was a day after their usual pay date. They said they expected to receive their salaries on Tuesday April 23, but were furnished with a communiqué notifying them that payment of their salaries would be delayed.
For three days, patients at RFM and clinics under the ENHI were neglected as the workers engaged in a go-slow strike.

When the RFM hospital was visited yesterday morning, some of the aggrieved workers were found lazing around outside the hospital building. Meanwhile, a few patients were found sitting on benches waiting for assistance.

This was a far cry from the usual long queues of patients, who visit the hospital on a daily basis. It was believed that this was due to that patients opted to visit other hospitals as they were not attended to at RFM.

During the course of the day yesterday, sources said the nurses went back into the hospital and sat-in for the remainder of the day. Around 2pm, the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union’s (SWADNU) executive is said to have met with RFM management where they were promised that workers would start receiving their salaries before the end of yesterday as the institution has been granted a short-term bank overdraft.

This was confirmed by RFM acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Raymond Bitchong.
“Considering the gravity of the situation, management was able to apply successfully for a short-term bank overdraft and is currently processing April 2024 salaries.

Although the management is cognisant of the negative financial impact of an overdraft, it found it appropriate to address the challenge in a way that will bring back a stable workplace climate and maintain the safety of clients under our care,” said Dr Bitchong.

He added that ENHI would continue to apply existing internal rules and procedures to handle any unlawful action taken by employees. On the issue of government’s subvention, the acting CEO stated that the ENHI had still not received its monthly subvention but the ministry of health had assured that efforts were being made to address this issue.

Meanwhile, SWADNU Secretary General Mayibongwe Masangane said during the meeting with RFM’s management yesterday, the union expressed its wish for issues that may affect workers to be communicated to them (workers) on time. Regarding the delayed salary payment, Masangane said it frustrated the workers to be told on their payday that they would not receive their salaries.

“The fact that nursing is a calling does not mean healthcare workers’ needs should be disregarded. Everyone who is employed, regardless of their profession, expects to be paid for the work done,” stated Masangane.

Likewise, he said nurses also have monthly budgets on how they would use money for different needs at certain times, ‘so if they do not receive their salaries on time, they get affected.’

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