Health Workers Return to Duty After Agreeing on Three-Part Increment in Hardship Allowance
7 June 2024 by Limpho Sello
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Health workers are back to work today (June 7) after the government successfully persuaded them to accept a three-part increment of hardship allowances, to be implemented over a three-year period.
The first increment of M500 will be paid effective from June 2024, the second increment of M750 at the beginning of the 2025/26 fiscal year, and the final increment to M1,000 will be implemented at the start of the 2026/27 financial year in April 2026.
Workers’ representative Tanki Ranthimo told Uncensored News that the offer was made during a June 6, 2024, meeting between the government and representatives of health workers in the hard-to-reach areas of Qacha’s Nek, Thaba-Tseka, and Mokhotlong.
This was also confirmed by Lesotho Nurses Association (LNA) President Busa Qhala, who stated that the government informed them that it could only afford to match the workers’ proposed increment over a three-year period.
Uncensored News has also seen a letter signed by Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Moliehi Maneo Ntene, confirming the three-year increment plan to the workers’ representatives
Services in Qacha’s Nek, Thaba-Tseka and Mokhotlong districts nearly collapsed during the three-week strike from May 13 to June 6, 2024. The striking workers were demanding an increase in their hardship allowance from M275.00 to M1,000.00.
Also read: https://www.uncensored.org.za/chal-joins-health-workers-strike-as-crisis-deepens-in-lesotho/
In an interview on June 6, Ranthimo told Uncensored News that the government informed them it did not have enough funds to meet the M1,000 demand for the entire financial year.
“This is not what we had expected, and it is not what we had proposed, but if we had not agreed to this M500.00 increment, we would have received nothing. We were told that if we insisted on the M1,000.00 increment, we would only receive the hardship allowance from this month until August 2024 due to the current state of the government’s finances.
“Therefore, we had to reach a compromise and accept this because it was clear during our discussions that the financial situation does not allow for a larger increment. Another factor we had to consider was that all government workers in the hard-to-reach areas need to receive this allowance.”
Mokhothu Makhalanyane, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on the social cluster, previously told Uncensored News that the government would need M6 million a month to pay each state worker in the hard-to-reach areas a M1,000 hardship allowance per month.
Meanwhile, Ranthimo likened the situation to demanding half a loaf of bread from a provider who cannot give it because they simply do not have it. “No matter how much you cry and express your hunger, they can’t give you what they don’t have. If the only thing available is a quarter loaf, you’ll be forced to take what’s on the plate. That is what we did.”
He added that although they were adamant about not accepting anything less than a M1, 000, they realized how much the public was suffering.
“The public was suffering while we watched, even though it wasn’t our fault. We accepted this compromise so we could return to serving the public,” he said.
Ranthimo and his colleagues have previously accused the Lesotho government of reneging on agreements made in meetings, leading to their previous decision not to call off a strike without a written agreement. When asked how confident they are that the government will fulfill its promise this time, Ranthimo said they requested the government to commit in writing and make a public announcement of the agreements made in the meeting.
“This is because we do not want to end up embarrassed or have them deny some of the issues we agreed upon. It is our hope that we will get what was promised, which is in the best interest of all parties involved and, most importantly, the public.”
Meanwhile, LNA President Busa Qhala echoed the same concerns raised by Ranthimo, adding that the government and workers’ representatives agreed on what the government said it could offer versus what the workers had requested.
Qhala stated that while workers had initially proposed an increment to M5,000, the government negotiated them down to M1,000, explaining that the hardship allowance affects not only health workers but all eligible civil servants in the hard-to-reach areas.
He mentioned that even in June 6 meeting, the government reiterated that to accommodate all workers, it could only afford to increase the allowance to M500 initially.
“So, in two weeks, the expectation is that the M500 hardship allowance will be paid and continue in that manner until the next financial year and the year after M750 and eventually reaching the M1,000 allowance. The government stated that this gradual increase is a proposal they can maintain,” explained Qhala.
Qhala noted that although they accepted the offer, they were not fully satisfied with it. “We need to appeal to the health workers to return to duty because we have to accept that compromises are necessary when discussing such issues, whether we are happy about it or not,” he said.
He added: “This agreement was formalized in writing by the Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Maneo Ntene to the LNA yesterday (June 6, 2024).”
Seen by Uncensored News, the letter from PS Ntene states: “Reference is made to the meeting held between the Honourable Minister of Health, yourself and other representatives from your Association on the above matter. In this meeting the options as provided by the Ministry of Finance were presented and deliberations made.
“This is to reiterate on the agreement reached by the meeting which is to adopt Scenario #1 as follows: Increase Hardship Allowance to M500 in Year 1, M750 in Year 2, and M1000 in Year 3. The Ministry of Health appreciates your patience and cooperation in this matter.”
Health workers are back to work today (June 7) after the government successfully persuaded them to accept a three-part increment of hardship allowances, to be implemented over a three-year period.
The first increment of M500 will be paid effective from June 2024, the second increment of M750 at the beginning of the 2025/26 fiscal year, and the final increment to M1,000 will be implemented at the start of the 2026/27 financial year in April 2026.
Workers’ representative Tanki Ranthimo told Uncensored News that the offer was made during a June 6, 2024, meeting between the government and representatives of health workers in the hard-to-reach areas of Qacha’s Nek, Thaba-Tseka, and Mokhotlong.
This was also confirmed by Lesotho Nurses Association (LNA) President Busa Qhala, who stated that the government informed them that it could only afford to match the workers’ proposed increment over a three-year period.
Uncensored News has also seen a letter signed by Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Moliehi Maneo Ntene, confirming the three-year increment plan to the workers’ representatives
Services in Qacha’s Nek, Thaba-Tseka and Mokhotlong districts nearly collapsed during the three-week strike from May 13 to June 6, 2024. The striking workers were demanding an increase in their hardship allowance from M275.00 to M1,000.00.
Also read: https://www.uncensored.org.za/chal-joins-health-workers-strike-as-crisis-deepens-in-lesotho/
In an interview on June 6, Ranthimo told Uncensored News that the government informed them it did not have enough funds to meet the M1,000 demand for the entire financial year.
“This is not what we had expected, and it is not what we had proposed, but if we had not agreed to this M500.00 increment, we would have received nothing. We were told that if we insisted on the M1,000.00 increment, we would only receive the hardship allowance from this month until August 2024 due to the current state of the government’s finances.
“Therefore, we had to reach a compromise and accept this because it was clear during our discussions that the financial situation does not allow for a larger increment. Another factor we had to consider was that all government workers in the hard-to-reach areas need to receive this allowance.”
Mokhothu Makhalanyane, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on the social cluster, previously told Uncensored News that the government would need M6 million a month to pay each state worker in the hard-to-reach areas a M1,000 hardship allowance per month.
Meanwhile, Ranthimo likened the situation to demanding half a loaf of bread from a provider who cannot give it because they simply do not have it. “No matter how much you cry and express your hunger, they can’t give you what they don’t have. If the only thing available is a quarter loaf, you’ll be forced to take what’s on the plate. That is what we did.”
He added that although they were adamant about not accepting anything less than a M1, 000, they realized how much the public was suffering.
“The public was suffering while we watched, even though it wasn’t our fault. We accepted this compromise so we could return to serving the public,” he said.
Ranthimo and his colleagues have previously accused the Lesotho government of reneging on agreements made in meetings, leading to their previous decision not to call off a strike without a written agreement. When asked how confident they are that the government will fulfill its promise this time, Ranthimo said they requested the government to commit in writing and make a public announcement of the agreements made in the meeting.
“This is because we do not want to end up embarrassed or have them deny some of the issues we agreed upon. It is our hope that we will get what was promised, which is in the best interest of all parties involved and, most importantly, the public.”
Meanwhile, LNA President Busa Qhala echoed the same concerns raised by Ranthimo, adding that the government and workers’ representatives agreed on what the government said it could offer versus what the workers had requested.
Qhala stated that while workers had initially proposed an increment to M5,000, the government negotiated them down to M1,000, explaining that the hardship allowance affects not only health workers but all eligible civil servants in the hard-to-reach areas.
He mentioned that even in June 6 meeting, the government reiterated that to accommodate all workers, it could only afford to increase the allowance to M500 initially.
“So, in two weeks, the expectation is that the M500 hardship allowance will be paid and continue in that manner until the next financial year and the year after M750 and eventually reaching the M1,000 allowance. The government stated that this gradual increase is a proposal they can maintain,” explained Qhala.
Qhala noted that although they accepted the offer, they were not fully satisfied with it. “We need to appeal to the health workers to return to duty because we have to accept that compromises are necessary when discussing such issues, whether we are happy about it or not,” he said.
He added: “This agreement was formalized in writing by the Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Maneo Ntene to the LNA yesterday (June 6, 2024).”
Seen by Uncensored News, the letter from PS Ntene states: “Reference is made to the meeting held between the Honourable Minister of Health, yourself and other representatives from your Association on the above matter. In this meeting the options as provided by the Ministry of Finance were presented and deliberations made.
“This is to reiterate on the agreement reached by the meeting which is to adopt Scenario #1 as follows: Increase Hardship Allowance to M500 in Year 1, M750 in Year 2, and M1000 in Year 3. The Ministry of Health appreciates your patience and cooperation in this matter.”
