AMID the climbing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country, the Health Workers United for Wage Fight (HWUWF) yesterday called on the Marcos administration to heed their demand for salary increase for private and public health workers nationwide.
In a statement in observance of the “Health Workers’ Day” on May 7, the HWUWF also urged the government to fill up the 21,038 vacant plantilla positions in the Department of Health (DOH).
The group said mass hiring would be the answer to their demand, especially amid the resurgence of COVID-19.
“Contractualization policy among health workers must stop. We play a very essential and vital role in the hospitals as we help treat diseases and save lives of our countrymen,” it said.
“Many from our ranks are hired as contractual or with no permanent positions. Thus, contractual health workers must be regularized,” added HWUWF.
Likewise, the group called on the government to help them cope with the increasing cost of basic commodities and services.
“We, health workers, are committed to serve the Filipino people. But even as we pledge to serve our countrymen, we face the harsh realities of worsening economic conditions, increasing cost of basic commodities, and the rising inflation rate that erodes the meager value of our current wages,” said HWUWF.
“We, health workers, thus, demand for wage hike,” it said.
The group noted how a Salary Grade 1 (SG1) health worker in public hospitals only earns P13,000 per month, while private health workers receive only P570/day as their minimum pay.
This, it said, is why they are asking for a P33,000 entry salary of SG1 health workers, and P1,100.00/day for private health workers.
“We, health workers, are exasperated and demoralized for the continued negligence of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Marcos government in upholding our rights and welfare,” the group said, adding: “We are urging this government to immediately address our just demands.”
