More than three months after the wage dispute between Community Health Workers (CHWs) and the Gauteng Department of Health, over 2 000 workers have still not been paid their monthly stipend.
This follows the online article Department called to resolve dispute with community health workers, which highlighted the wage dispute with health workers based in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni since the introduction of the payment system by the SmartPurse company, which was awarded an R87-million contract earlier this year to administer payments.
The Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, explained that following the introduction of the system, there were still delays in paying workers and problems getting thousands more to sign their new contracts.
“According to Gauteng MEC for Health, Qedani Mahlangu in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature, only 6 338 out of 8 760 workers in Gauteng have signed up with the SmartPurse company to be paid their monthly R2 500 stipend,” he said.
“This means that 2 422 CHWs have not been paid for their work, and many of those who did sign with SmartPurse have also not been paid in time because of the company’s inefficiency.”
Additionally, 2 315 workers were allegedly paid late for their May stipend, while 237 were paid late for their June one.
This, Bloom said, the MEC had allegedly attributed to workers not reporting for work and, therefore, not being able to have their personal data verified. “Another reason for the reluctance to sign new contracts is due to workers’ suspicions about SmartPurse and their wish to rather be permanently employed by the department,” he said.
Responding to this was Steve Mabona, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health, who confirmed the delays in paying workers in time. “So far, the department has managed to get about 6 125 CHWs to sign new contracts [but] there are plans in place to wrap this process up expeditiously,” he said.
Mabona also confirmed that the delay had been due to a lack of attendance by some workers, which meant that personal data could not be verified, but he remained mum on the allegations that 2 422 workers have still not signed their contracts.
He added that the absent workers’ banking details and work attendance were now being validated at the facility they’re attached to ensure they are paid on time.
Bloom, meanwhile, concluded by urging the department to ensure workers are paid on time and that the payments are administered properly. “CHWs do valuable work and the loss of these workers because they refuse to sign the contract with SmartPurse is a blow to the provision of primary health care,” he stressed.
What are your thoughts on the story? Tell us by posting on our timeline, North Eastern Tribune or tweet us @NE_Tribune. Add us on Whatsapp for the latest news by adding 079 4395 345 to your contact list and just send your name to us so we can save your number. Click here to find out more about our Whatsapp policy.
