Kenya’s health ministry said on Monday that it has finalised a draft deal with the nurses after the health workers boycotted work in some parts of the country.
The health workers cited a breach of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) they signed with the government.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health Julius Korir told newsmen in Nairobi that the concluded draft CBA has been forwarded to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
“WE expect the SRC to issue a no objection letter in relation to the content of the CBA.
“Once the SRC makes a pronouncement on the matter, the county governments will go ahead and sign the CBA with the nurses union,” Korir said.
His remarks came after the Kenya National Union of Nurses called for a strike beginning on Monday unless the National and County governments sign and implement the CBA that was agreed upon in December 2016 that hiked nurses’ salaries.
Under the 2010 constitution, the health functions have been devolved to the 47 county governments with the national government responsible for formulation of health policies.
The negotiations on the nurses CBA between the nurses union and the Joint National and County governments have been ongoing since December 2016.
Chairman of the Council of Governors Josephat Nanok said the negotiations have been carried out in good faith and all parties have been in constant discussions to finalize the CBA as agreed in Return to Work Formula.
“The national and county governments are following due process to ensure that the CBA is signed and that it shall not have any legal challenges in the registration process,’’ Nanok said. (Xinhua/NAN)
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