Doctors, Nurses Receive Cushioning Allowance

Government employees in the health sector reportedly received their cushioning allowances on Wednesday, with the rest of the civil servants set to be paid by Friday this week.

Apex Council chairperson Cecilia Alexander said that there is a need to come up with a long term solution to the issue of civil servants’ welfare soon. She said:

Although the allowance will cushion employees for the rest of the month, we need to quickly come up with a common understanding going forward.

Meanwhile, Health Apex spokesperson Dr Peter Magombeya also confirmed that workers in the health sector received the cushion on Wednesday.

He, however, reiterated the need for the government to come up with an acceptable cost of living adjustment (COLA). Said Dr Magombeya:

Yes, we received the allowances today (Wednesday) and we commend Government for keeping us close to our patients but we are still looking forward to a better offer for the cost of living adjustment.

The government said last week that it will award its workers a cushioning allowance of 50 per cent of their salaries, including allowances, a percentage that saw the least paid getting at least $400.

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