GPSU PRESS RELEASE: Doctors Earn taxable GYD $250 (USD $1.20) per hour on-call as Government pass S1.146 trillion budget as stated by the Deputy Speaker

GPSU PRESS RELEASE: Doctors Earn taxable GYD $250 (USD $1.20) per hour on-call as Government pass S1.146 trillion budget as stated by the Deputy Speaker

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) supports the presentation made by the Deputy Speaker in her budget presentation on behalf of Physicians, when she passionately condemned the treatment and conditions under which they are compelled to provide quality health care. The doctors were instructed by a Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Health dated February 9, 2021, that “to remedy the shortages of doctors and in an effort to reduce the burn out syndrome by doctors at the main facilities (Regional and District Hospitals) doctors from the primary health care facilities (Health Centers and Post) are required to support their colleagues by doing at least ten (10) on-call sessions monthly”. This is evidence that doctors are forced to perform on-call duties after completing normal eight (8) hours shifts.

The GPSU is in receipt of a number of complaints from doctors throughout Guyana which confirm the statements made by the Hon Dr. Asha Kissoon, Deputy Speaker of National Assembly. After completing their eight-hour shifts doctors are forced to embark on illegal “on-call” duty which ranges from 4 to 24-hours, depending on their location. To add insult to injury these doctors around the country work for a meager GYD $250 (USD $1.20) per hour, which is taxable.

The overtime rates posted in the table in Guyana Times article on January 28, 2024 titled “Asha Kissoon Misrepresents Facts By Giving Incomplete Information”, is far below the legal rates for overtime and is only paid to doctors performing duties at the Accident and Emergency Unit of GPHC.  The arbitrary determination of a rate for overtime work is unlawful and similarly the arbitrary allocation of on-call rate is in conflict with laws of Guyana, International Labour Organization Conventions, and Collective Labour Agreements that deal with conditions of work.

Another grave injustice is interns are not compensated for “on-call” hours worked at GPHC. It is important to note that doctors in other Caribbean Countries which are not oil rich are properly compensated for on-call duties.

Minister Frank Anthony unashamedly exhibited great hypocrisy in raising a point of order in the Parliament against Dr. Kissoon’s effort to highlight ongoing issues. He was fully cognizant and critical of the issue while he was in Opposition, which he conveyed to the public in a letter to the Editor of Stabroek News dated September 25, 2018.  Now that he is in a position of authority, he should issue an apology and work to correct these grave injustices which still abound under his leadership among the members of his fraternity.

GPSU has been forcefully representing this matter with both Administrations (APNU & PPP/C) and as recent as a letter dated February 8, 2023 addressed to the Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony, the Union stated that “the memo was not in keeping with the labour laws and Public Service Rules and it was grossly insensitive to other conditions”. The GPSU also issued a Memo to its members on February 10, 2023 advising that they should be guided by the Laws and Rules that govern conditions of service. The GPSU is on record decrying the lack of Collective Bargaining to the extent that the Union has taken legal action to correct the Government’s attitude to Labour Laws. To date the Minister has not responded to the plight of the workers hence Dr. Kisoon’s statement that the doctors’ complaints have fallen on ‘deaf ears’, is accurate.

It is noteworthy to remind the nation of the Government’s reluctance to negotiate with the GPSU, the recognized and certified trade union that represents Public Sector Workers and a trade union that is apolitical; where the government of Guyana is the employer of the Public Sector Workers. The Union also notes with serious concern a senior government official stated the Government’s intention of not negotiating with the Guyana Public Service Union while on the other hand the government is prepared and ready to negotiate increases of wages and salaries with a Trade Union affiliated with the PPP/C government. The Leader of the said Union is a PPP/C Member of Parliament.

This action by the PPP/C Administration is a blatant display of executive lawlessness, flouting of the Constitution, Laws of Guyana as well as acting in conflict with their obligations to ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 151 that were ratified by the Parliament of Guyana and are in-force and legally binding Collective Agreements.  Their action is nothing short of disrespect to the Trade Union Recognition Act 1997 and discrimination against Public Sector Workers. The Government should correct its posture and enter into negotiations with GPSU and work in the interest of unity, especially since the Venezuelans are marshalling against Guyana and the togetherness of the nation is absolutely necessary.

160 Regent & Shiv Chanderpaul Drive

Bourda, Georgetown.

February 6, 2024