Mortuary workers to strike on Tuesday over low salaries

Beginning next Tuesday, public mortuaries in the country would be deserted by all mortuary workers.

This is because members of the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG) would begin an indefinite strike from Tuesday, March 5, as a last resort to compel the Ministry of Health to among other things, review their salaries and working hours.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jnAktGsgaZFZaqpKBp9AsD0QIQk1M1jC”]It comes three months after mortuary workers in the country threatened to embark on a similar strike over poor working conditions.

The General Secretary of MOWAG, Richard Kofi Jordan, told Citi News 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.”

The workers say the decision comes on the back of neglect and unresponsiveness by the Ministry of Health over their concerns.

“We struggle to get protective clothing. Even with salary rise, we are at the bottom of the structure. So on Tuesday, it is going to be an indefinite strike. We are not coming to the mortuary until something concrete and positive is communicated to us,” he added.

Earlier threat

The workers indicated that they are overworked and not paid for their overtime services.

Among their complaints, the association said most of the workers were employed as casual workers, and their jobs are not guaranteed.

“Most of us 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.”

“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”, they said.

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By: Nii Larte Lartey & Akosua Ofeiwaa Opoku | citinewsroom.com |Ghana