Trade unions representing health sector employees have announced their intention to initiate another strike action starting February 01 if the government does not address their concerns.
Despite the President’s commitment to engage in talks regarding allowances upon his return from an official overseas tour, health workers claim they have not yet had discussions with the Head of State.
Simultaneously, a series of protests are scheduled to take place in front of hospitals in and around Colombo today.
On January 08, the Cabinet of Ministers approved President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal to double the DAT allowance for government doctors, increasing it from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 70,000.
Following this decision, health sector employees’ trade unions, representing various professionals such as radiology and laboratory technicians, pharmacists, drug compounders, midwives, dental surgeons, public health inspectors, and entomology officers, launched multiple strikes in protest of the government’s decision. They demanded an allowance increase for all health sector employees.
On January 23, the government temporarily reduced the payment of DAT allowance for doctors, citing insufficient funds. Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena explained that while arrangements were made for the payment, the Treasury did not provide funds within the approved allocation limit.
This move led the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) to announce an indefinite strike starting January 24. However, the planned trade union action was later called off after the decision to suspend the DAT allowance payments was reversed.
