Overtime payment will be reintroduced for nurses Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence announced today while addressing the International Nurses Day Rally in the capital city.
Minister Volda Lawrence.
Lawrence assured them that she’s well-aware of the challenges they face but is committed to improving the working standards, especially when it comes to monetary compensation for hard work.
“Nurses will be compensated for their hours of work even if it entails paying overtime. You must be compensated”, Lawrence told the health sector workers gathered at the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Hall, Regent Street and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive in observance of International Nurses Week.
Minister Lawrence didn’t provide details of the reintroduction of overtime payment controversially stopped by the previous administration. Ending overtime payment has been a bone of contention among government workers and the nurses greeted Lawrence’s announcement with applause.
Restarting overtime payment and ending verbal and physical abuse of health care workers dominated themes explored in the minister’s discourse with the nurses Friday.
“We are going to deem every hospital and health centre, a sacred ground” Lawrence told them.
The nurses in attendance yesterday.
The Minister was reiterating her outrage at the recent abuse of doctors and nurses at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) which she condemned as “unacceptable”.
Since the last attack the Public Health Ministry and the Ministry of Public Security have agreed to beef up security at the health institution.
Today’s rally was held to honor nurses from all 10 administrative regions of Guyana for their valuable contributions to Guyana’s publichealth sector. Nurses were awarded for excellence and punctuality, excellence in patient care, years of services, willingness and dedication of services and for maintaining high standards of quality care in nursing.
International Nurses Day 2017 is being observed under the theme: “Nurses: A voice to Lead- Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs).