France To Reward Health Workers With €8bn In Pay Rises, To Recognize Their Work During Pandemic
In what is seen as an applaud worthy move by some, France to offer €8bn in pay rises to health care workers to honor their contribution towards coronavirus efforts.
Among the most important frontline workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic are doctors and medical staff. Even though they have been working non-stop to help their countries control the spread of coronavirus - treating patients, and in some cases, losing their lives - there have been reports of how some doctors have not even been paid their due salaries, let alone been given raises.
France, however, is going to spend €8bn (almost Rs 68,000 crore) to give health workers a pay rise, to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic.
AFP
After weeks of negotiations, prime minister Jean Castex and union leaders signed the deal, which the former hailed as a ¡°historic moment for our health system.¡±
According to Independent, heath and care workers will witness a rise of $183 (?165) in their wages at an average, each month, under the agreement.
¡°This is first of all recognition of those who have been on the front line in the fight against this epidemic. It is also a way of catching up for years of delay, for which each and every one ¨C including perhaps myself ¨C has their share of responsibility,¡± Mr Castex, reportedly said.
There has reportedly been anger among the citizens regarding government¡¯s failure to demonstrate their appreciation to health workers fiscally.
Also Read: Health Workers Allegedly Attacked, Spat At By Mob In Kerala COVID-19 Hotspot
Reuters
Most of the pay-rise packages will cover the wages of nurses, care workers and non-medical staff.
About €450m will be reserved for doctors who work exclusively in the public sector.
However, some unions have reportedly failed to back the deal, suggesting it did not go far enough in protecting services and staff.
According to the report, a Paris branch of the hospital workers¡¯ union CFE-CGC tweeted a map of protests taking place on Tuesday, urging people to denounce the ¡®sham¡¯ deal.
Reuters
Apparently in UK as well, unions and the government are in a tussle over material displays of appreciation for the bravery and sacrifice of health workers, to whom the government has paid lip service as ¡®heroes¡¯.
Borris Johnson held another Clap for Carers event recently, but there seems to be no update regarding the pay rises for health care workers.
Do you think extending ¡®moral¡¯ support to the health care workers is enough or should governments compensate them for their work monetarily as well?
Also Read: Mumbai-Born Nurse Rija Abraham Conferred With UK's Corona Critical Worker Hero Title
