The Ministry of Health has secured financial clearance for about 300 mortuary workers to be fully absorbed on to the government’s payroll system.
Currently, a majority of mortuary attendants are only employed as casual workers who earn monthly salaries of 250 cedis.
However the Public Relations Officer for the Ministry, Elorm Ametepe said the workers will soon be moved onto government’s payroll to address the problem.
“We decided that we are going to mechanize them. What I mean by mechanization is to roll them onto the payroll so that they will receive their salaries just like any other worker in the public sector.
“They brought a list of about three hundred of their colleagues who are not mechanized and we secured financial clearance for them.”
Effect of strike
Mortuary workers have been on a strike for some time now over their conditions of service.
The strike has created discomfort for families seeking bodies for burial. They say they will not call off their strike until their demands are met.
At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary, people who came to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones on Friday were turned away.
The mortuary attendants have been demanding increased salaries and improved conditions of service from the government for several months now.
This is the second time mortuary workers are on a strike now.
However, negotiations between the Association and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission appear to have broken down, forcing the workers to lay down their tools again.
The Fair Wages has described the strike as unfortunate.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Edward Kwapong says although plans are advanced in addressing the concerns of the striking workers, their posture from the fallout of the negotiation process is worrying.