MONROVIA, June 3(LINA) -The Liberian Senate has mandated the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to reinstate the dismissed President and Secretary General of the National Health Workers Association (NHWA) within 72 hours.
The Liberian Senate requested the Health Ministry authorities to ensure that NHWA president Joseph Tamba and Secretary General George Williams are given retroactive pay and all benefits.
According to the Liberia News Agency, the Liberian Senate gave the mandate Tuesday when Deputy Health Minister for Administration and Acting Minister Matthew Flomo appeared before it to provide reasons why the two men have not been reinstated as earlier mandated by the Senate.
Messrs. Tamba and Williams and 20 others of the Association were dismissed by Minister Walter Gwenigale in February as a result of a nationwide strike action staged by health workers in the country.
The Health Minister has since reinstated the other 20 health workers, leaving out the association’s President and Secretary General.
The Senators noted that it was unfortunate that the Minister had to dismiss the individuals after assuring them of non-dismissal during the negotiation process that ended the health workers strike action.
They expressed fears of eminent strike action that could paralyze the nation again as the health workers are threatening to resort to such if the two leaders were not reinstated.
The lawmakers said it would not be in the interest of the country and its people were the health workers to stage another strike action at this point in time.
Earlier, Acting Health Minister Flomo told the Senate that the decision to reinstate the two people was beyond his authority as they were dismissed by the minister proper.
He, however, promised to immediately communicate the Senate’s mandate to Minister Gwenigale, who is currently out of the country.
LINA HVW/PTK