The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) on Monday, Sept. 27 rejected the proposal of the Department of Health (DOH) to provide a "singular allowance" for health workers.
In a statement, the FNU National President Maristela Abenojar said the DOH's "singular allowance" proposal was "ill-conceived and a heartless move".
"It will effectively reduce the present package of monetary benefits already approved broken down into P3K active hazard duty pay (AHDP), P5K special risk allowance (SRA) and 8k meals, accommodation and transportation (MAT) allowance for health workers in both public and private sectors," it said.
The group added the payment of these benefits for health workers continue to be delayed and thousands of health workers are even unjustly excluded and deemed ineligible per DOH'S listing.
"We view the DOH-proposed singular allowance as a divisive and unjust cost-cutting measure that reflects the government's little regaed for the selfless work and sacrifice exerted by health workers in this time of pandemic," it added.
Health workers will receive benefits according to categories: P3,000 for low-risk exposure; P6,000 for medium risk exposure; and P9,000 for high risk exposure.
The FNU reiterated this effectively reduces what they are already receiving or supposed to receive under present laws. "This is actually a violation of the labor law that there should be no 'diminution in benefits' of employees."
"Ironically, this proposal emerged while the DOH is still being investigated for mismanagement of public funds intended for COVID response such as the P550M lost in nearly 400,000 expired RT-PCR kits from Pharmally Pharmatceutical Corporation and the irregular transfer of P428B from DOH to Procurement Service of DBM for overpriced personal protective equipments (PPEs)," it cited.
The group added the DOH's non-inclusion of budget for health workers' benefits for 2022 shows "its total regard of health worker's welfare."
As of Sept. 19, a total of 9,056 nurses have been infected with the deadly disease.
The group also questioned the intention of DOH singular allowance scheme where only 525,727 or 29 percent of the total 1.8M health workers targeted as beneficiaries.
The FNU, meanwhile, reiterated its call for the government to ensure that COVID-19 benefits such as AHDP, SRA, life insurance, MAT, as well as compensatio in cases of COVID-illness or deaths, must be alloted budget for health workers, both in public and private sectors regardless of status of employment.
It also demanded for the mass hiring of 50,000 nurses and increase salaries of all nurses.
The group also appealed to the government to grant the monthly benefits for all workers starting July 2021 to include quarantine period and sick leave related to COVID; ensure all benefits are tax-exempted; both AHDP and SRA must be provided in addition to the hazard pay from Magna Carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305) and other hazard pay; immediate release of all remaining Bayanihan 2 benefits; simplify the requirements of COVID-19 related compensation claims; benefits and compension must be processed not later than 15 days upon receipt of all requirements; and to increase the 2022 national health budget.