The government has explained that medical doctors are not supposed to go on strike because they are essential workers.
Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Chanda Kaziya said thus, the current go-slow by resident doctors is against the law.
According to a statement issued to ZANIS by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Public Relations Unit, Mr. Kaziya said there is no law that allows essential workers to go on strike.
“There is no provision in the law that grants an essential worker to withhold labour even if they are unhappy with their working conditions,” he said.
He explained that the doctors should have used the court or the Ministry of Labour as a mediator in airing out their grievances instead of risking live of many people seeking medical services.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour quoted the law and said ‘when an essential worker goes on strike or on a go-slow, they shall not be paid their monthly salary.
Mr. Kaziya has meanwhile disclosed that government was already addressing the demands which the members of the Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDAZ) were making.
The doctors are asking for accrued benefits and have since decided to down tools.
He said the RDAZ members can only make a decision to go on strike if nothing is being done about their requests.
He clarified that it has already been communicated to the doctors that government, through the Ministry of Finance, is addressing their demands hence the need for them to practice utmost patience.
Mr. Kaziya has since appealed to the doctors to resume their normal duties and engage government through the Ministry of Finance to share a plan of how their demands will be met.
He added that essential workers need to abide with what the law demands them to do.
And Resident Doctors Association of Zambia president, Brian Sampa said requests have been made for some time now.
Dr. Sampa said RDAZ decided to go on strike in order to get a reaction from government.
He said doctors are not motivated because they are not getting what they are working for.
He explained that the association was expecting Ministry of Labour and Social Security to explain how government has fallen short of providing for the doctors.
Dr. Sampa vowed that the go-slow will only end when all the arrears and demands are met and the doctors are satisfied.
“Failure to meet their demands, the doctors are ready to face the consequences of not following the law,” he said.
Those are not doctors. Those are upnd paid cadres who have put the profession in disrepute. They chose to put their political affiliation before service to the people. I have recommended to the cabinet that the the ring leaders be fired. We cannot allow such stupldlty from people who are meant to be highly intelligent
Go on , since these fools priotise bye elections and all
campaigns and electoral corruptions instead of paying doctors
or buying medicines in hospitals . Go on you have our support
Everything is against the law under this government. The Bible in Leviticus says “Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight”.
Maybe, the Word of God will cause you to lessen your grip on the frontline workers.
What is illegal is paying civil servants late, or not paying retirees their dues.
Meanwhile, koswe is busy dishing out dirty money during campaigns right now.
Your father is a thief.
A go slow cant be illegal. These guys are not on strike. They are merely working to rule. They wont do extra duties. What are you gonna charge them with?
What’s illicit is to not pay the Doctors what is owed to them, that is illegal!
If they continue working without
Going on go slow then how will
Their demands be met?
Lungu has failed to run Zambia, let him just step down so that Bally can fix it.
The timing is wrong and can be linked to the upcoming elections. Worse still at such a time when covid 19 cases have exponentially increased. Maybe doctors want the situation to reach the Indian way. Two wrongs can not solve a right. God help us.
Wise up n vote wisely…power to continue or discontinue on this course is in your hands.
Pay the doctors what is due to them and they will go back to work! Criminal cadres get money for nothing, but the “essential” workers don’t get paid? Where is the logic here? Typical corrupt PF government behaviour. Vote them out on August 12!
According to lungu and Pf the Bible is also against the law
Pf + Lungu = the Bible is also against the law
What is so special about them? Just leave . Why are u still working if you are not being paid….fake Doctors!! Utuma degree twa rigging