The General Secretary of the Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana (MOWAG), Richard Kofi Jordan, has announced that all mortuary workers across the country will embark on an indefinite strike starting September 27.
This action comes after prolonged grievances, including inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), unpaid salary arrears, and unfulfilled promises regarding bonuses and financial clearance for new staff.
In an interview on Joy News’ PM Express, Mr Jordan expressed frustration with the slow response from the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies, despite repeated discussions and negotiations.
One of the main concerns raised by Mr Jordan is the lack of adequate PPEs for mortuary workers, a critical issue that has persisted for years.
“Our issues have to do, number one, with PPEs, which is non-negotiable. We should have them, but currently, we don’t have them adequately, and it is affecting the work we do,” he said.
He stated that providing PPEs is essential for the safety of workers who handle sensitive tasks in challenging environments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Unpaid Salary Arrears Dating Back to 2020”
Mr Jordan also highlighted the issue of unpaid salary arrears, which have been accumulating since 2020.
Despite several engagements with the Ministry of Health and other government bodies, the arrears remain unpaid, adding financial strain to the already burdened workers.
“We have been battling with the Ministry of Health and other agencies for some time now because of these salary arrears,” he added.
Another point of contention is the need for financial clearance to recruit more mortuary workers, as the current workforce is stretched thin.
“We are seeking to have more mortuary workers join us because of the workload and the fewer people doing it,” Mr. Jordan said.
He noted that despite ongoing discussions with government agencies, no concrete steps have been taken to address the staffing shortages.
Mortuary workers were left out of the bonuses promised by the government to frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Jordan expressed disappointment, stating, “The President promised bonuses for all frontline health workers, but mortuary workers were exempted. These are the four key issues that we are dealing with for this particular strike action.”
In response to a recent meeting with representatives from the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Finance, Mr Jordan said the government had asked for more time to address the issues, promising solutions by the end of November.
However, he clarified that the association would not accept further delays.
“It has always been the same story. This time around, they are saying we should give them until the close of November, but we are not going to allow that,” Mr Jordan stated.
He stressed that the issues have been raised multiple times over the years, with no meaningful action taken.
Mr. Jordan concluded the interview by issuing a firm directive to all mortuary workers to close their facilities on September 27, until their demands are met.