The Coalition of Unemployed Allied Health Professionals has announced plans to picket at the Ministry of Health on September 16 to protest the government’s continued failure to post its members.
The affected year groups include Allied Health Professionals from 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, all of whom remain unposted.
Despite years of appeals to both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance for financial clearance, their efforts have yielded no results.
Michael Hlordzi, the Coalition’s spokesperson, voiced deep frustration, noting that prolonged unemployment has forced many members into menial jobs, a situation he describes as a waste of their valuable skills and resources.
“There is serious agitation now and then. People have resorted to menial jobs like construction and selling on the street and the most painful part is that we have to renew our professional pins every year. We renew them in anticipation of clearance, but it never comes.”
The Coalition believes that the timing of their picket is crucial, with elections on upcoming. They fear that waiting any longer might result in their issue being deprioritized by the government.
“The year is drawing to a close, and elections are approaching. If we don’t picket now, next year after the election, we don’t think any government will be interested in our case,” Hlordzi added.
He also emphasised the urgent need for financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance, even if for one year group, to resolve their longstanding issue.
Allied Health Professionals include a wide range of specialists, like physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, dietitians, nutritionists, and others.