Ray of hope: Summary approved for LHWs’ salaries

Basic pay scales have also been demanded for workers.

PESHAWAR: It seems the protests of health workers have borne fruit as the summary for the payment of their salaries has been approved.

“A summary to pay the salaries of lady health workers has been approved by the finance department,” a handout issued on Tuesday quoted Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai as saying at a meeting held on the same day. “A document of Schedule of New Expenditures has also been sent to the finance department, asking basic pay scales for LHWs in the province.”

Representatives of the LHWs were also present at the meeting and the health minister assured them that their demands would be met on a priority basis.

The handout quoted Tarakai as further saying that the programme of lady health workers is of the federal government hence it is the latter’s responsibility to provide funds to the provincial government for their salaries. “However, the centre has not provided even a single penny so far.”

The statement added LHWs are the backbone of the health department and they would get salaries as per their pay scales instead of getting a fixed amount. It was also said the Centre had to pay Rs2.4 billion to the provincial government for the salaries of LHWs but since they have not done so yet, the K-P government has taken the matter up with the Federal Health Ministry.

LWHs held a protest and sit-in on Monday to urge the government to address their grievances.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd,  2015.