In the wake of professions supplementary to medicine (PSMs) and paramedical services resuming their trade union action demanding the disturbance, availability, and transport (DAT) allowance hike given to doctors, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) urged the health sector non-medical workers not to be victims of the political agendas of certain trade union leaders.
The major professions supplementary to medicine and paramedical health services trade union, the Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA), launched a series of trade union actions in January against the Government’s decision to increase the DAT allowance only for doctors by Rs. 35,000. Following several meetings held with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies, the HTUA halted the trade union action under the promise given by the State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe that they would be given a chance to discuss the matter with President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as soon as he returned to Sri Lanka.
Claiming that they have not been asked to meet the President and that no response has been given regarding their issues thus far, the HTUA said that they would resume their trade union action from 6.30 a.m. today (1) onwards. At least 72 health sector trade unions, excluding the doctors’ unions, will launch an islandwide strike from 6.30 a.m. today, demanding the DAT allowance hike.
On 8 January, the Cabinet of Ministers approved President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal to double the DAT allowance paid to Government doctors, raising it from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 70,000. Since then, the health sector employees’ trade unions representing a wide range of health sector professionals, including radiology and laboratory technicians, pharmacists and drug compounders, midwives, dental surgeons, public health inspectors, and entomology officers launched strikes on multiple occasions in protest of the Government’s decision, demanding an allowance increase for all health sector employees.
On 23 January, the Government decided to temporarily halt the payment of the DAT allowance for doctors citing insufficient funds. The Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated that although the necessary arrangements were made for the payment of the said allowance, the Treasury had not provided funds within the approved allocation limit. This prompted the GMOA to announce the launch of an indefinite strike action starting from 24 January. However, it later called off the planned trade union action, after the decision to suspend the DAT allowance payments was rolled back.
Meanwhile, the GMOA, yesterday (31 January), in an open letter to all health workers, noted that health workers should not be victims of the political whims of certain trade union leaders and must instead act in a way that protects the dignity of the respective community. Speaking to the media yesterday, the GMOA spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said that certain demands of the professions supplementary to medicine and paramedical trade unions, including the demand for the same DAT allowance given to doctors, are not fair and legal. He further alleged that several trade union leaders have been trying to create unnecessary chaos within the sector and get innocent health workers onto the streets to achieve their personal political agendas. He stated that the health workers must understand the situation very clearly and be responsible not to cause any inconvenience to patients.
The HTUA Convenor Ravi Kumudesh told the media previously that they were waiting for three weeks until the Government came up with a fair response to their issues, yet it seems that the Government has broken the promises given to them. Therefore, he said that the trade unions have no other options than working according to their plans.