The healthcare sector in Benin is facing a major crisis as the Syntrasesh union, the country's largest healthcare union, has launched a campaign to bring attention to 11 key demands. These demands include issues related to salaries, equal treatment, recruitment, training, and retirement. The union claims that the current governance system is unfair and demotivates healthcare workers.
One of the main concerns is the non-payment of salaries to some healthcare workers since 2019. The union is demanding regular payment of salaries and an end to disparities in salary scales. They argue that workers with the same qualifications and positions are receiving different salaries, with those recruited on private funds receiving lower salaries than their government-employed counterparts.
The union also highlights issues with paid leave and social security contributions, which are not being applied to workers recruited on private funds. Furthermore, they point out that recent salary increases for medical personnel have not been extended to paramedics, nursing assistants, and midwives. The union is calling for these workers to receive similar benefits and an increase in their housing allowance.
The issue of additional training is another point of contention. Healthcare workers who have completed additional training at their own expense are waiting for administrative recognition, with some waiting over five years. In response, the Ministry of Health has launched a national census of workers who have completed additional training, either through national scholarships or partner funding.
The union is demanding the recruitment of at least 5,000 healthcare workers to address staffing shortages. They claim that current staffing levels are leading to excessively long working hours, with some workers doing 48-hour shifts or more. In some centers, nursing assistants are performing tasks typically done by nurses or midwives.
The union is also advocating for the integration of nursing assistants trained at the Parakou School of Medical and Social Sciences into the public service. Additionally, they are calling for a review of the minimum retirement pension to align it with the minimum wage, as some retirees are currently receiving less than 30,000 FCFA per month.
The Ministry of Health's decision to launch a census of healthcare workers who have completed additional training is seen as a positive step. However, the union's demands are non-exhaustive, and they plan to take their concerns to the public and decision-makers. The government's response will be crucial in resolving the crisis.
Key points
- The Benin healthcare sector is in crisis due to unpaid salaries, inequality, and poor governance.
- The Syntrasesh union is demanding the recruitment of at least 5,000 healthcare workers to address staffing shortages.
- The Ministry of Health has launched a national census of workers who have completed additional training to address the issue of administrative recognition.
