11,000 nurses to get civil servant status

Some protests do work. Nurses stuck in low paid temporary status get promises of full-time nurse jobs with full benefits and pay.

HEALTHCARE & LABOUR RIGHTS

11,000 nurses to get civil servant status

Govt caves in amid resignation threat
17/05/2017
Post Reporters

After a series of twists and turns the government said yesterday it will meet nurses' demands by granting 11,000 who are now working under temporary contracts permanent civil servant status within three years, entitling them to get the same welfare and benefits that nurses get.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting at Government House, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the first batch will be hired this year to fill 2,200 civil servant positions that are currently vacant under the Public Health Ministry (MOPH).

COMPROMISE: 8,800 CIVIL SERVANT NURSE POSITIONS OVER NEXT THREE YEARS

A further 8,800 permanent civil servant positions will be granted over the next three years, or about 2,900 per year, Gen Prayut said in a move seen as pre-empting a rash of resignations by nurses this summer.

These figures include all the vacancies that will arise when nurses who already enjoy status as permanent civil servants retire, government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

The recruitment scheme was proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam and MOPH Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn during the meeting.

It has been agreed by the cabinet but not yet officially approved.

Gen Prayut said he has assigned Mr Wissanu to work on the plan.

10,000 TEMP NURSES HAD THREATENED TO STOP WORK & LEAVE  

The premier's decision comes after more than 10,000 nurses working for public hospitals and state health units nationwide on a temporary contract basis, threatened to leave their posts if they were not granted permanent civil servant status.

The nurses said they would stop working at the end of September, when the 2017 fiscal year is over, in protest against the cabinet decision on May 9 which disapproved the listing of 10,992 contract nurses as civil servants over a three-year period.

Contract nurses are hired by state hospitals.

They are not entitled to the same benefits and welfare that nurses with civil servant status receive.

Gen Prayut said the government had to consider all state agencies whose staff are comprised of permanent civil servants, government employees as well as contract and permanent employees to ensure the situation is dealt with fairly and equitably.

NURSE SHORTAGE IN GOVERNMENT SECTOR

Gen Prayut admitted the state lacked skilled nurses as many resign to work for private hospitals with higher salaries and better welfare benefits.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1250726/11-000-nurses-to-get-civil-servant-status

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1247782/nurses-asked-to-defer-mass-resignations

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1249542/wissanu-urges-10-000-state-jobs-for-nurses

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/297755/nurse-shortage

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