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SCRAPPED HEALTH SHIFT ALLOWANCE ANGERS UNION

SCRAPPED HEALTH SHIFT ALLOWANCE ANGERS UNION

By SENIYA BANDA

THE Biomedical Union of Zambia says it is angered by Government’s decision to scrap off the 15 percent health shift allowance for medical personnel.

The union’s president, Mr Daniel Mwimbe has explained that health workers are shocked to learn from their current pay slip, the health shifting allowance has been removed as part of their salary without being informed

Mr Mwimbe said it is illegal for the government to go ahead to remove the allowance without consulting trade unions.

He said there is need for the right procedure to be followed whenever an allowance is being removed or added to the emoluments for civil servants.

He has called on the government to ensure that the allowances are quickly reinstated as its removal is illegal.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwimbe said the decision by Germany to lift the travel ban on Zambia in regards to the Covid-19 restrictions does not mean that the country should relax with its Covid-19 guidelines.

He said African countries are still behind with the Covid-19 vaccination programmes, therefore there is no need to relax the Covid-19 guidelines.

Meanwhile when contacted for a comment on the health shift allowance, Ministry of Health spokesperson Abel Kabalo said he will follow up the matter and establish what is on the ground. 

Dr Kabalo has also cautioned unions representing health workers against rushing to the media before engaging the ministry on their grievances

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