Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Gauteng refused to sign a one year Fixed Term Contract offered by the Gauteng Department of Health, this happened after the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced them as permanent employees of the Department of Health as they play a crucial role in the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI).
The shutdowns of signing stations began in the City of Johannesburg on the 18th February 2019 and continued to Westrand, Ekurhuleni and other districts through out the week. According to Gauteng Community Health Care Forum, a Forum that represent Community Health Workers in Gauteng, the Department of Health is acting against the law since there is a ruling from the Public Health and Social Development Sectorial Bargaining Council that deemed Community Health Workers as employees of the Department of Health in an indefinite duration in terms of section 198B of the Labour Relation Act of 1996.
The Forum have met with Mr Lebethe and the acting Chief manager of HR Mr Letsoalo from the office of the MEC of health Dr Gwen Ramokgopa on the 21st February 2019 to address the matter of the Fixed Term Contract offered to Community Health Workers. The Department of Health have agreed to stop with the Fixed Term Contract but will continue with the capturing of Community Health Workers into the persal system, this means Community Health Worker will have to complete persal forms from the HR and they are not expected to sign any Fixed Term Contract until the matter is resolved.
Gauteng Community Health Care Forum calls all Community Health Workers not sign any fixed term contract until the Department of Health do what is right.
