The Assembly of Liberian Health Professionals has condemned the government’s decision to implement a US$50 top-up for health workers as a violation of the Health Sector Pay Grade and Salary Reclassification Policy.
The group, which includes major associations such as the Liberia Nurses Association, Liberia Medical and Dental Association, and others, has announced a nationwide strike set to begin on December 10, 2024, unless the issue is addressed.
The dispute centers on the government’s recent announcement that, under the 2025 national budget, nurses, midwives, and physician assistants will receive a monthly top-up of US$50, while other health workers will get between US$25 and US$40.
The health professionals argue, “This top-up disregards the Health Sector Pay Grade and Salary Reclassification Policy, which was designed to address salary disparities among different categories of healthcare workers,” they voiced out.
The policy was supposed to be implemented in the 2024 budget but was delayed. Health workers had hoped it would be included in the 2025 budget to ensure fair salary adjustments. The group’s spokesperson, Theophilus Tamba Fayiah, stated in a press conference Thursday, December 5, 2024, that the government’s decision to impose flat-rate top-ups without following the agreed-upon policy is a provocative move that exacerbates existing salary inequalities and undermines the efforts to create an equitable pay structure.
Fayiah emphasized that the government had signed onto the policy, validated it with the help of a consultant, and committed to addressing pay disparities across the sector. He also called for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the government and the various health worker associations for the policy’s implementation.
Health workers have warned that if no substantial action is taken by the government by the strike’s date, they will stop all services nationwide, demanding that the government demonstrates a commitment to resolving the issue.
The health workers said they remain steadfast in their commitment to improving the sector and ensuring better working conditions for their members, urging the government to take the matter seriously to avoid disruption to healthcare service in Liberia.