15 September 2004
Health is an essential service and in line with the agreement of the Bargaining Chamber, health workers are not expected to participate in a strike action.
One of the Constitutional obligations of the Department of Health is to protect and promote a right to life. The participation of health workers in a strike action has a potential to undermine this fundamental right of all South Africans
The National Department of Health has sent a circular to all provinces and health facilities reiterating the position of health workers with regard to participation in an industrial action.
The principle of no work, no pay will apply to employees who fail to report for duty because of participation in the industrial action. Employees who participate in the strike while they are supposed to be on duty will be subject to disciplinary procedure. No leave will be granted for purpose of participating in the strike
We hope that labour organisations within the health sector will fulfil their constitutional obligation to protect the health of South African and not put the life of any person at risk.
The Department of Health will be monitoring the situation in all provinces and will respond accordingly to any problem that may arise in the provision of health services.
A national Health Strike Monitoring Unit has been set up. It will elicit information from similar units at provincial level on a two-hourly basis on the day of the strike.
Issued by Sibani Mngadi Spokesperson for the Minister of Health @ 0827720161