Essential medical staff to embark on ‘no pay, no work’ over unpaid overtime
Essential health workers say they have not received overtime payments for the past two months.
Image: Pexels / File
AS THE festive season approaches, emergency medical services personnel, doctors, and nurses who have not been paid overtime for the past two months are set to embark on a “no pay, no work” arrangement from Friday, October 31.
The provincial chairperson of the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa), Paul Gras, said essential services workers would march to the Northern Cape Department of Health offices in Kimberley on Friday in search of answers.
“We have over 4,000 members in the Northern Cape who will embark on regular working hours arrangements. While patient care will be compromised, clinical staff cannot be expected to work without compensation,” said Gras.
He added that the Department of Health was reportedly experiencing a financial deficit.
“Every year money for overtime runs out and no arrangements are made from the Treasury to pay essential staff. Where is the money that was allocated in the budget for overtime?”
Gras said he was doubtful that clinical staff would be reimbursed for overtime worked during 2025 in the 2026 financial year.
“By then the money will have dried up, and it will mean that there are no funds left for overtime in the new financial year, as the backdated payments will amount to millions of rand.”
Public Servants Association (PSA) provincial manager Steve Ledibane added that unions had not yet been engaged by the Department of Health regarding the way forward.
“We are concerned because essential services will be affected. This is a symptom of poor financial management. Patients do not choose when they may fall ill,” said Ledibane.
The Northern Cape Department of Health did not respond to media enquiries by the time of publication.