Asunción, 13 mar ( EFE).- physicians and the Paraguay Ministry of health officials today began a strike I reject a resolution of increase of working hours in the sector and rumors of possible layoffs repudiation.
The measure of force was convened by the National Federation of health workers (FNTS), the most important of the country, whose leaders have ratified this afternoon its position during a meeting with the authorities of health and the Ministry of Justice and labour.
“There are more than 20,000 public health workers, there is a very high compliance of the measure in much of the country,” he told Efe the doctor Carlos Cubas, one of the leaders of the FNTS.
The source explained that they protest against the claims of the portfolio in the industry of increasing “time burdens to double, even to the triple without wage increases from April 1”.
Asserted that they also manifested against possible dismissal “of 256 physicians according to the Minister (Esperanza MartÃnez), over 360 according to the FNTS”.
For its part, the Ministry of health clarified in a statement that 33,000 officials available to this body, 1,114 are designated for the implementation of the time burden.
“Officials who have been affected by the increase in workload, time currently receive remuneration which is higher than the standards of the market”, remarked the source.
Cited as example that a professional biochemistry of the private sector perceives currently an average of 20,500 guaranÃes ($ 4) for each hour of work, while an officer of similar rank of the Ministry of health receives 57,500 guaranÃes ($ 13) for each hour of work.
MartÃnez noted told reporters that only some 60 persons submitted to the strike and criticized the direct action taken by the FNTS at a time when the country faces a new epidemic of dengue, a disease endemic in this South American country.
The Minister of health also warned of possible sanctions for the organizers of the strike.
Cubas stepped in from these statements and accused Martinez of generating this confrontational situation with officials.
“Who is it may happen that in a situation like this should be increased to the double or triple the time burden of a worker of unilaterally and without any compensation and that he dismiss to six hundred people”, said. EFE
