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Article

18 May 2020

Author:
Nasibo Kabale, Daily Nation (Kenya)

Kenya: Medical workers' union sue Nairobi Hospital for requiring employees to work overtime to cope with anticipated Covid-19 demands

"Pay cuts in private hospitals as business slumps"

As the Covid-19 pandemic rages, many private hospitals are grappling with a different side-effect – financial problems. The growing costs and shrinking revenues are now forcing hospitals to ask their employees to take a pay cut. The Nation has learned that several private hospitals in the country are feeling the economic crunch due to a decline in patients and suspension of elective surgeries, which contribute a huge chunk of their income...

The Nairobi Hospital, however, has taken a different approach. The facility has revised the working hours for its employees. The hospital sent a memo to its staff informing them that due to the nature of the hospital's operations as a 24-hour essential services provider, all employees would be required to work 45 hours a week, up from 40 hours. They were also asked to be flexible, depending on the required work arrangement and business exigencies. “In this regard and for the mutual benefit of our patients, the hospital, staff and all stakeholders, all employees who signed a contract of employment to work 40 hours a week will be required to sign an addendum to the employment contract to this effect,” the hospital told the staff. The move by the hospital, however, has not been received well. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has moved to court to stop the changes. In a signed affidavit, the Nairobi KMPDU branch secretary, Dr Thuranira Kaugiria, said the facility is adamant that those who fail to comply with the new policy could face adverse action, including citation, disciplinary action, victimisation and or termination. Justice Stephen Radido has suspended the move by the hospital and slated the matter for mention on June 2.