By Quinton Alomp, EMTV News, Port Moresby
Nurses around the country have been given a range of 100 to 300 per cent increase in their domestic market allowances (DMA) depending on the grading of the officer.
The increase will take effect as of January 1st, 2016.
The increased terms and conditions for the nurses will also include principals and tutors of nursing colleges.
Personnel Management Department Secretary, John Kali, said the increased allowances for nurses are focused more on rural health care.
“This makes it more attractive for nurses,” Kali said.
The increased allowances come after nurses, through the PNG Nurses Association, in August 2014, put forward their claims for increased allowances including housing and overtime.
Housing is not a condition of employment for government workers; therefore the nurse’s request was turned down.
However, Secretary Kali said they are negotiating with the Health Department and the Association to establish a Home Ownership Committee for nurses to enter into the government’s home ownership arrangements.
Mr Kali said this when signing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Health Secretary, Pascoe Kase, and PNG Nurses Association Acting National President, Steven Nawik, yesterday.
The MOA states that as of 1st January, 2016 nurses will receive a substantial increase in domestic market allowances, clinical overtime and on-call allowances, Book and equipment, uniforms and teaching institutional allowances among others.
Secretary Kase said accepted the changes saying nurses have been on the frontline of duty in rural area.
With some of the concerns now addressed, the PNG Nurses Association has withdrawn their attempt to obtain legal actions for a nationwide stop work.
“With this MOA signed, we now withdrawn our plan for a stop work,” Nawik told a group of nurses witnessed by the two Secretaries during the MOA signing yesterday.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=QWctKWX9N5Y%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
