PCP Accuses SESARAM of Breaching Health Workers' Rights in Madeira
Madeira GuideThe Communist Party accuses the Madeira Health Service of undermining workers' rights and pay by violating the negotiated Enterprise Agreement.
In a significant development on Madeira Island, the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) has accused the ServiƧo Regional de SaĆŗde da Madeira (SESARAM) of violating the rights and remuneration of health professionals. This accusation stems from alleged breaches of the Enterprise Agreement (AE) by SESARAM, facilitated by the Regional Government's PSD/CDS coalition.
On March 25, PCP representatives engaged with SESARAM workers across various hospitals and health centers, following multiple complaints regarding the non-compliance with the AE. According to the PCP, SESARAM's actions amount to depriving health professionals of their rightful benefits and pay, contravening the established agreement with the unions.
Ricardo Lume, a PCP official, highlighted these grievances during a protest at the Hospital Dr. JoĆ£o de Almada. Lume asserted that SESARAM is misleading health workers and undermining their financial and legal rights, notably by improperly applying the Public Functions Labour Law instead of the AE.
A key issue identified is the alteration of compensation for work on public holidays. The AE specifies additional pay of 75% for the first hour and 100% thereafter for daytime work on weekends and holidays, with increased rates for nighttime shifts. It also grants a compensatory rest day within eight days. In contrast, the Public Functions Labour Law offers only a 50% pay increase or compensatory rest equating to half the worked hours.
This discrepancy, the PCP argues, is grossly unfair, especially for health workers who ensure essential services during socially significant times. The situation has ignited a debate about the protection of workers' rights in Madeira's health sector and the role of regional governance in safeguarding these rights.
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Madeira Guide
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