Frustrated! -AS Heath Workers Threaten Nationwide Strike By: Yassah J Wright

The Assembly of Liberian Health professional has termed the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance USD$50 top up for health workers as provocative and a complete breach of the Health Sector Pay Grade and Salary Reclassification Policy, while threatening a nationwide strike action beginning December 10, 2024. The Assembly of Liberian Health Professional includes Pharmaceutical Association of Liberia, Liberia Nurse Association, Liberia National Physician Assistance Association, Liberia Midwives Association, Liberia Association of Nurse Anesthetist, Liberian Society of Medical Imaging Technologies, Liberia Association of Operating Room Technicians, Liberia Association of Environmental Professionals, Liberia Association of Medical Laboratory Technologists, and Liberia Medical and Dental Association. Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine K. Ngafuan, following the submission of the Draft 2025 National Budget to the Legislature, said within the current budget, nurses, midwives and physician assistance will receive the amount of US$50 top-ups per month while other health workers will receive US$ 25-40 based on their level. But, responding to the government latest revelation, addressing the press at a well-attended press conference with the supra listed institutions heads, the chairperson of the group and President of Liberia National Physician Assistance Association, Theophilus Tamba Fayiah, said  it’s very saddened that the government of Liberia will ignore the Health Sector Pay Grade and Salary Reclassification Policy and institute another policy to top-up the salary of health workers. He disclosed that the Policy was originally scheduled to commence in the 2024 National Budget, but given the delay in the implementation, they urged the government to include the policy in the 2025 National Budget to ensure its timely execution. ‘’ In the absence of the Reclassification Policy, we see the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance US$5o top-ups as a provocation. This is a provocation to address equity and salary disparities in the heath sector. People are already saying that we are doing the same work but not earning the same money then the government does this. The government signed onto this document and so, ignoring it and bringing flat-rate is evil,’’ he stated. According to him, they worked with the consultant recently provided by the government of Liberia and they validated the policy and the government signed to uphold the policy, and some of the issues address include the salary disparities because current pay structure create inequalities among healthcare workers of various professional categories, despite the shared goal of delivering quality service. He further indicated that following the adjustment, they respectfully requested that the government signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the various institutions for the implementation of the policy which was launched by the government and adopted. ‘’ If no concrete action is taken within the timeline, we the health workers will commence a nationwide strike. This collective action will involve the cessation of all services until the government demonstrate a commitment to addressing our demand. We strongly urge you to take this matter seriously and engage with us to avert a disruption of healthcare services across the nation. We remain committed to advancing the health sector and the health and the welfare of healthcare workers, and we hope that the government share this commitment,’’ he concluded.