The Union Haddiema Maghqudin Health Services section said yesterday it held more meetings to discuss the working hours of employees on Scale 13 and a teaching allowance.

The UHM said that contrary to what the General Workers’ Union had said, it has been seeking to improve the conditions of health department workers for quite some time now.

In fact, more than two years ago it had forwarded a request so that careworkers and nursing aides on Scale 13 are given the same allowance.

It was only a year ago that the GWU asked to take part in discussions and it promised carers that it “would be asking for more” – and this when the UHM had nearly succeeded in ensuring that carers are treated in the same way as other employees who perform the same duties.

The UHM said that it is insisting with the authorities concerned that every employee should be paid for the duties s/he carries out.