Ghana Health Services Workers' Union 13th Month Salary: Union Demands Payment

• The Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) has raised alarms over the non-payment of a '13th-month salary' agreed under their collective agreement.
• Severe staff shortages in public health facilities are overburdening existing workers and negatively impacting healthcare delivery.
• Recruitment efforts have disproportionately focused on doctors and nurses, neglecting crucial non-clinical and specialized support staff.
• The Union criticizes the use of internally generated funds for casual workers, citing unsustainable employment and inadequate conditions.
• The HSWU is calling on the government and health employers to address recruitment gaps and integrate affected workers onto the public payroll.

The cumulative effect of these Ghana public health staff shortages and outstanding financial obligations is a workforce that is severely overburdened.

The Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU) has voiced significant concerns regarding the persistent non-payment of a '13th-month salary' owed to its members, alongside a critical shortage of personnel across public health facilities in Ghana. This additional month's remuneration, a key provision of the existing collective agreement, is due to all workers who have completed twelve months of service. However, the Union reports that this payment has remained outstanding since the agreement was initially established with the employer. These financial grievances are compounded by severe understaffing, which is reportedly placing immense strain on the current workforce and negatively impacting the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery nationwide.

Jerry Detse Mensah-Pah, the Principal Industrial Relations Officer for the HSWU, highlighted that the unpaid 13th-month salary is just one of several unresolved labor issues. These include problems with personnel placement and a significant deficit in the recruitment of non-clinical health workers. Mensah-Pah emphasized that essential support staff are indispensable, stating that medical professionals like doctors and nurses cannot operate effectively in isolation. He specifically cited major institutions such as Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Koforidua Hospital, and Ridge Hospital as being in urgent need of additional staff to meet their operational requirements.

The HSWU's allegations point to potential breaches of the collective agreement concerning the Ghana Health Services Workers' Union 13th month salary, a critical aspect of Ghana public sector employment compliance. The Union contends that recruitment efforts have disproportionately focused on doctors and nurses, thereby neglecting other vital categories of healthcare personnel. This oversight has led to severe shortages among paramedics, disease control officers, administrative staff, security personnel, orderlies, and general laborers, all of whom are crucial for the smooth functioning of hospitals. The Union asserts that security officers, cleaners, and other support staff are fundamental to effective hospital operations.

Furthermore, the HSWU has criticized the practice of engaging casual workers through internally generated funds, arguing that such arrangements fail to provide sustainable employment or adequate conditions of service. This approach also creates significant disparities, as illustrated by an X-ray technician on the public payroll earning GH¢3,000, while a casually engaged counterpart performing similar duties might receive only GH¢1,000. The Ghana public health staff shortages extend beyond general support roles to include specialized professionals such as nutritionists, clinical engineers, pharmacy technicians, field staff, and X-ray technicians, exacerbating Ghana labour issues health sector-wide.

The cumulative effect of these Ghana public health staff shortages and outstanding financial obligations is a workforce that is severely overburdened. Existing employees are reportedly working excessively long hours, leading to health challenges, increased absenteeism, and difficulties in balancing professional duties with family responsibilities. Esther Akuma, the HSWU Chairperson for the Ashanti Region, described the situation as critical, noting that discussions and promises regarding recruitment have been ongoing for too long without sufficient action. She highlighted instances where duties typically performed by multiple individuals are now being handled by a single person, further intensifying the strain.

The Health Services Workers’ Union demands a proactive response from both the government and health-sector employers. They are urging authorities to promptly address the significant recruitment gaps and to integrate affected casual workers onto the public payroll. The Union firmly believes that improving conditions of service and ensuring adequate staffing levels will not only boost worker morale but also lead to a substantial improvement in overall healthcare delivery across the nation. This situation underscores the urgent need for adherence to collective agreement obligations and broader Ghana public sector employment compliance.

Lawyers advising public sector entities in Ghana should note the heightened risk of labor disputes and compliance breaches stemming from the Health Services Workers’ Union's allegations of unpaid 13th-month salaries and severe staff shortages, particularly concerning collective agreement obligations and general labor law adherence.

Source: Original reporting via David Opoku