An aggrieved casual worker of the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital who says he has been unfairly fired has vowed to bring authorities of the Hospital to justice over his case as well as the “unfair treatment of casual workers at the hospital”.
In a letter copied to the press, Marvelous Baah reveals that the hospital continues to treat some worke
rs who have worked at the facility for close to 18 years as Casual workers and explains that such workers are receive less than 200 cedis as salary even though they have families to cater for.
“The Labour Act 2003, 75. (1) [A temporary worker who is employed by the same employer for a continuous period of six months and more shall be treated under this Part as a permanent worker].”
Marvelous Baah says his colleagues are scared to “come out and complain” but adds that he is ready to expose the unfair treatment being meted out to the workers despite their hardwork and total commitment to their job and the hospital’s clients.
Already he has referred the matter of his dismissal to the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
He explains that the hospital makes the Casual workers apply to be re-engaged from time to time, thereby erasing all the years they have served the hospital, a situation many of the Casual workers consider unfair.
He wants the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations; Haruna Iddrisu to intervene in this matter and reverse the demotivating treatment being handed down to the workers some of whose jobs are sensitive to the sustenance of the lives of their clients.
The Hospital Administrator Sefakor Kumahor tells rawgist.com the hospital has no authority to employ permanent workers hence their engagement and re-engagement method. She however explains that they have written to the regional office of the Ghana Health Service regarding the necessary vacancies and the situation of some casual workers but explains the power lies with the Ghana Health Service to engage them as permanent workers. She declined comment on the matter of Marvelous Baah explaining that the matter is with CHRAJ.
Please read below the full letter written by the dismissed Marvelous Baah:
Concerned Citizen of Ghana
Accra
21/05/2016
Mobile; 0202265209 / 0277351634 / 0244199304
The Editor
Daily Graphic Accra
Thro; The Chief Executive Officer Graphic Communications Group
Accra
Dear Sir/Madam
THE UNFAIR TREATMENT OF WORKERS AT PRINCESS MARIE LOUISE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CONTRARY TO THE LABOUR LAW
The management of Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital has decided to act contrary to the Labour laws of the country.
The once upon a time temporary or Casual workers at the Hospital have worked for at most 18 years and they are still been treated as Casual or temporary workers.
The Labour Act 2003, 75. (1) [A temporary worker who is employed by the same employer for a continuous period of six months and more shall be treated under this Part as a permanent worker].
I am a worker of the Hospital but have been dismissed unlawfully and currently my issue is with CHRAJJ.
I have realized that my colleagues are scared to come out and complain hence my decision to let the whole of the nation hear about their cry.
My Colleagues are hard working in their various departments, the management of the hospital don’t see that in them, they don’t get any risk allowance, no promotion, motivation or other benefits. Their basic salary is nothing to write home about, GHc180 to GHC198 in these hard times.
The most painful aspect of all is their plan to RE-ENGAGE them and squash all the number of years they have worked in the Hospital. This act if goes unchecked would also deprive these workers from being mechanized in the near future and it’s also against the labour law.
Information from reliable source indicates management of the hospital is trying to break the law and in effect sack some of the affected workers. The management of the hospital has POSTPONED the program, from reliable source all documents are in place to go on with the sacking very soon.
Tension is all over the Hospital with the few brave ones among them planning to embark on an industrial action. I plan to support the INDUSTRIAL ACTION fully.
I also plan to organize a demonstration with them against the Government of Ghana if their employment status is not mechanized within the coming weeks.
I pray the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu intervenes and bring industrial harmony to the hospital.
Find attached a copy of the Memo management sent to the workers.
Yours Sincerely,
…………………………
Marvelous Baah
CC; The Press
