The Mortuary Workers Association Of Ghana (MOWAG) have began their nationwide indefinite strike to press home their demands for better working conditions and better salaries.
According to them, their protest is the last resort to compel the Ministry of Health to among other things, review their salaries and working conditions.
A meeting yesterday with the ministry of health was however not fruitful
It comes three months after mortuary workers in the country threatened to embark on a similar strike over poor working conditions and low salaries.
Speaking in an interview with Okay Fm's Ade Akye Abia Programme, General Secretary of MOWAG, Richard Kofi Jordan, told his members would only return upon a considerable deal from the Ministry of Health and Labour Union.
“We talk of poor sanitation, maintenance of the various facilities which has been neglected by authorities, working more than 24 hours which is against the labour laws . Our rights have been violated, some of us work on holidays when we are supposed to rest. We are not being given holiday allowances.”
He said the Ministry’s failure to provide them with a counter proposal to their requests and a date for negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, pushed them to take the decision.
Below Are Some Of Their Concerns
1. Many of the Mortuary Workers are denied perpetual their annual leave in violation of section 20 of Act 651.
2. Most Mortuary Workers work more than the required 8 hours including Saturdays and Sundays in violation of section 33 of Act 651.
3. Most have been employed as casual and temporary workers in violation of section 74 and 75 of Act 651, which does not guarantee job security especially in the environment in which they work.
4. In terms of remuneration, it is unfortunate to state that Mortuary workers are treated as most unrecognized in the sector and for that matter, least paid on the salary structure of Ministry of Health with no single allowance.
5. Many of the Mortuary facilities are understaffed, no maintenance which compromises on health and safety rules of the sector making the workers unnecessary to suffer in silence.
6. In terms of their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), some have to struggle to get them to use making the working conditions at some facilities undesirable.
7. There is no provision for universal medical checkups plan in violation of sections 118 of Act 651.
8. No overtime is paid which is in violation of section 35.
9. They are not paid for public holidays in violation of section 72 of Act 651.
10. They work on weekends on which are resting days by law which will amount to overtime but are not paid.
They have asked members of the public to bear with them in these trying times.
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