The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) calls on the Department of Health to speedily employ Community Health Workers (CHWs) on a permanent basis as per the recent Labour Court judgement. Last year, the Federation’s militant affiliate, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) approached the Labour Court seeking to overturn a bargaining council ruling that found nothing illegal about keeping Community Health Workers on recurring fixed-term contracts indefinitely, with no benefits and zero job security.
The Labour Court has since set aside the bargaining council’s finding and ruled that Community Health Workers must be employed permanently, because the Department of Health failed to present a reasonable explanation for the continuous renewal of these exploitative contracts. COSATU calls on the Department to implement the court ruling without delay and permanently employ the 50 000 CHWs in accordance with the law.
NEHAWU carried the workers through the perennial struggle to full recognition. Community Health Workers play a critical role in the healthcare system working under constrained conditions with minimum resources, tirelessly contributing to the overall health of the public.
For decades, these workers have improved access to healthcare services to millions of South Africans, especially those in rural areas. It is unjust to keep them in contracts that rob them of the employment benefits enjoyed by other public servants while expecting them to remain dedicated in their duties. This practice is highly exploitative and unacceptable.
COSATU congratulates NEHAWU for staying true to its cause, refusing to relent to the attitude of the Health Department and the general oppressive conditions that are only favorable to those at the helm. Community Health Workers held the union line and refused to give in event though they were placed on recurring fixed-term contracts for many years, despite promises to make them permanent. The struggle of these workers has dragged on for far too long. Dilly dallying in employing them permanently would be inexcusable.