adminLoveness Bepete Chronicle Reporter
DOCTORS through the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association have filed an urgent chamber application in the High Court challenging the governments’ decision to deduct a total of $529 over two months from all doctors who participated in the three-week industrial action.
ZHDA Media and Publicity Officer Francis Rwodzi said the petition was lodged at the High Court in Harare on Friday.
He said the move by the government means more suffering for doctors who are already earning meagre salaries and allowances.
“In a document availed to doctors, the Public Service Commission as directed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, doctors will have their salaries for December and January deducted by an average of $264,48 each month to a whooping total of $529,36,” Rwodzi said.
The ZHDA through its lawyers represented by Emmanuel Samundombe have described the government’s move as illegal and an infringement of their right to industrial action.
“The ZHDA through its lawyers will challenge illegal salary deductions as they have been done outside the confines of the law, have not been done procedurally as per requirements of our current labour laws and are also an infringement of the right to industrial action as stipulated in section 65 and 76 of the new constitution of Zimbabwe.”
Rwodzi said the application would immediately seek to bar the paymaster from effecting the intended salary deductions before the next revised salary date.
He added that if the ministry is to continue with the move to deduct doctors’ salaries, doctors would immediately embark on another strike that would cripple the health sector.
Doctors went on strike on October 27, demanding an increase to their basic salaries from $283 to $1,200 excluding allowances.
After a meeting with the government on November 13, the doctors went back to work as their employer had agreed to deliver on their demands beginning next year January.
Earlier this month, the doctors threatened to go on strike for the second time after receiving reports that the government intends to cut salaries for doctors who participated in the industrial action.
ZHDA advised the employer that should the decision to cut salaries be implemented, doctors would not hesitate to withdraw their services.
Rwodzi said the association viewed the action by the employer as an act of insincerity and arrogance.
Online Reporter