Staff of two hospitals go on strike following increase in work hours

The nurses and some other employees of Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital in Kulhudhuffushi and Gnaviyani Atoll Hospital in Gnaviyani Fuvahmulah have gone on strike after their work hours were increased.

President of Fuvahmulah Hoadhandu Council Mohamed Ibrahim told Sun today that the hospital staff went on strike today after their work hours were increased from 8 to 10 hours, and their overtime pay per hour was also reduced.

He said that despite the protest by nurses and some other employees of the hospital, the hospital remained open.

“All the nurses and some employees of the hospital are on strike today. But the hospital services have not stopped completely. Their demand is to end the discrimination between them and other civil servants,” Mohamed Ibrahim told Sun.

Vice President of Kulhudhuffushi Council Faroog Mohamed said that nurses and members of their families are protesting outside the hospital, but the hospital remains open.

“To the best of my knowledge, the hospital has not been closed yet. But the services have gone down. The nurses and their families are protesting,” said Faroog.

Head of Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital Mohamed Hassan said that nurses and some members of the public went to the hospital in the morning, and expressed their discontent over the changes made to the hospital duty roster.

“The nurses and some members of the public came to the hospital and expressed their discontent in relation to the changes made to the duty roster. But I don’t see them anymore, I don’t know if they’re outside the hospital,” he said.

He said that even though the working hours have been increased due to the changes made to the duty roster, the staff will be duly paid for overtime.