Effia-Nkwanta, European hospital morgues staff join nationwide strike
Mortuary Workers within the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis have joined the nationwide strike to press home their demands for better working conditions.
A Visit to the Effia-Nkwanta hospital morgue and the European hospital morgues confirmed that staff of the morgues have indeed laid down their working tools.
Mr John Kuma, the Assistant in Charge of the Effia-Nkwanta morgue told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that workers of the facility deserved to be accorded the necessary respect whereby they receive their needed remuneration to improve on their working conditions.
Mr Kuma who has been working for the 12 years said his take home pay is only GH₵ 317.00, which he depends on to cater for his entire family.
According to him, he had worked as a casual worker for all these years contrary to the labour law, which stipulates six months casual.
The Morgue assistant said, they lacked working attires and apparatus, which includes, wellington boots, scrubbing brushes, among others.
He said considering the nature of their job, they need more working apparatus to enhance their work.
The situation was not different at the European hospital when the GNA visited.
Mortuary attendants were seen sitting idle in front of the morgue but declined to speak to the reporters.
Meanwhile, management were in a meeting as at the time GNA visited.
Mr. Richard Kofi Jordan, General Secretary of Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) had said the failure of the Health Ministry to give them a date to negotiate their emoluments with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission pushed them to take their current position.
Mr Jordan said “The mortuaries are going to be closed down, people should expect any workers”.
He said “the Ministry of Health is taking us for a ride, and we are not ready to die before we start enjoying what we are supposed to enjoy, we know the conditions under, which we work and we cannot wait any longer”.
He noted that aside their low salary, they also do not have the needed logistics to work, and everything is done manually.
Source: GNA