MANILA (UCAN): Health workers at 10 private hospitals in Manila, the Phlippines, staged a one-hour work stoppage on August 30 to protest poor salaries, benefits and what they say is a lack of government support. The walkout happened as Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, called them modern-day heroes in an address to mark the country’s National Heroes’ Day.
Health workers said they staged the protest so as not to disrupt hospital operations.
“I hope the government will increase the salary of both public and private health workers. If President Duterte can double the salary of policemen, I hope during the pandemic he will have the political will to double the salary of health workers,” Alliance of Healthcare Workers president, Robert Mendoza, told the press on August 30.
A nurse in the Philippines has an entry salary of 22,000 pesos [$3,420] per month while a policeman receives a monthly salary of 30,000 pesos [$4,660]. Duterte previously defended police pay, saying he needed brave cops in the country “who are not afraid to die.”
Mendoza said Duterte’s speech was farcical because of the lack of social care from the government.
“The president calls us heroes. But when it comes to health, safety and benefits, we don’t receive care from him or the Department of Health,” Mendoza said.
Meanwhile, another group said further action was planned until the government listened to them.
Maristela Abenojar from the Filipino Nurses United group said nurses are looking for “promised” benefits such as special risk allowance, hazard pay and meal, accommodation and transport subsidies.
Abenojar said nurses doubt Duterte’s sincerity because of his lack of support for heath workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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“They should have given us our benefits last year. Why did they not do anything?” Abenojar asked.
Earlier in August, Duterte ordered health secretary, Franscisco Duque, to arrange payment for health workers who have not received their benefits. But health workers say they are still waiting.
Father Sandy Jeresano of the Diocese of Virac, in Catanduanes province, said, “Let us not steal what is allotted to them. Let us put an end to the culture of corruption in this country. It is also a way to end this pandemic.”
