Sweepers in government hospitals and health centres across the country have been included on the list of scientists who will get a salary increment in the next financial year which starts in July 2022, the Ministry of Public Service has announced.
For months now, the Ministries of Education and Sports, Health and Public Service have been in the news as government employees such as science teachers and health workers sought to push for salary increment.
The Ministry of Public Service has particularly had to convince these groups of workers to either shelf their plans for industrial action or to end their strikes, by making commitments that salaries would be enhanced in July 2022.
On May 27, Public Service Minister Muruli Mukasa assured heath workers and all scientists that their salaries will be enhanced in the coming year, and that there is no need for any of them to go on strike.
He talked of goodwill from the government, and praised health workers for their role in fighting Covid19.
“The issue of pay enhancement has been budgeted for in the Financial Year 2022-23. I also wish to add that there is a lot of goodwill in government and among all the other stakeholders for the enhancement of all these health workers. Everyone agrees that indeed given the work these people do, they deserve pay enhancement but pay enhancement in line with our pay targets which we agreed on in the comprehensive bargaining agreement that was signed. So, there is no antagonism, there is nothing at all,” the minister also said.
“We are also cognizant of the fact that the health workers played a very commendable part during the Covid19 pandemic, they were there on the frontline, and that in part has added to the goodwill which everybody has for their pay enhancement.”
Minister Muruli Mukasa also confirmed that even sweepers and other support staff at health facilities have been included on the list of those whose pay will be increased alongside that of scientists in the coming financial year.
“That’s why there has been a budget of pay enhancement included for all these health workers, right from the sweeper at a health centre up to the topmost health official,” he said.
Meanwhile, Museveni’s Government has threatened to fire all striking nurses, midwives and other health workers if they do not return to work next week. (Read Story Here).
First Lady and Education Minister Janet Museveni has ordered science teachers to be patriotic, return to class and wait for government to look for a solution to their concerns. (Read Story Here).
The Ministry of Finance has confirmed that it has set aside billions to increase all scientists’ salaries starting July 2022. (Read Story Here).
MORE ON SALARY INCREMENT CIRCUS
In order to improve service delivery and end the challenge of strikes over low pay, President Museveni’s government has proposed huge salary increments for teachers, doctors and other employees starting July 2022. (Read Story Here)
The proposed increments have left many people wondering if government will really fulfill this pledge and increase salaries by very high amounts.
For example, opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has argued that the promise of salary increment is just ‘another lie.’ (Read Story Here).
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija recently said the money for increasing teachers’, doctors’ and other civil servants’ salaries was available. (Read Story Here).
In August 2021, cabinet approved salary increment for teachers, doctors and other health workers. (Read Story Here).
See the salary structure that had been proposed for the current financial year here.
UPDATED LIST: See Salary Structure for All Government Workers
Meanwhile, an NRM MP has angered teachers after telling them they are too poor to go on strike. (Read Story Here).
