Health Workers Fired in NTT, Ensure Rights Are Given Properly

The dismissal of 249 health workers in Manggarai Regency is considered a structural problem and needs to be addressed wisely.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Two participants in the protest used protective gear during the rally in the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area, Jakarta, on Monday (7/8/2023). Hundreds of non-permanent healthcare workers who are members of the Honorary Communication Forum for Nakes and Nonnakes held a demonstration demanding the government to issue specific regulations to appoint non-permanent workers as civil servants.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – A number of parties regret the decision of the Regional Government of Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, to fire 249 health workers. This problem needs to be addressed wisely so that it does not disrupt services in the community. Every health worker must be ensured that they receive the appropriate rights.

Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, Edy Wuryanto, stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (16/4/2024) that the termination of health workers in Manggarai Regency as a result of the non-renewal of their work order by the Manggarai Regent should be a shared concern. He considers the issue to be a structural problem that must be addressed by both the central and local government.

Based on information obtained from the Ministry of Health, the dismissal of at least 249 healthcare workers in Manggarai Regency occurred after they protested to the Manggarai Regency Government. The protest was carried out twice.

Also read: 249 Health Workers Fired in Manggarai-NTT, Mediation Still Underway

As for the demands of the healthcare workers, they are the acceleration of the process of signing the employment agreement letter (SPK) for non-civil servant healthcare workers, employment priority for government employees with employment agreement (PPPK) for non-civil servant healthcare workers, prohibition of accepting healthcare workers for PPPK from outside the Manggarai district, as well as demands for salary increase.

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Respect for the Indonesian flag. Healthcare workers at the Islamic Hospital in Banjarnegara, Central Java, held a flag ceremony in commemoration of the 76th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia in August 2021.

"This is a setback for the democratic country. People express their opinions and fight for their rights but are intimidated by not extending their SPK," said Edy.

He said that the dismissal is feared to have an impact on the health services provided to the community. Although the local health department head previously stated that they would redistribute the healthcare workforce, the problem cannot be resolved if it continues to linger.

If the government is committed to providing good services, the availability of health workers, both quantity and quality, must be met.

Edy argues that the demand from healthcare workers regarding their actual salaries is a reasonable concern. Budget planning can be improved, so there should be no excuse due to a lack of funds.

He also hopes that the government, both at the local and central levels, will have a better map of healthcare worker distribution. This includes a map of health issues in each region. Therefore, the required healthcare workers and their qualifications needed can be accurately identified.

Also read: Some Health Workers Have Not Received Incentives

"The government can also prepare a budget according to its health needs which is aligned with its fiscal capabilities. That requirespolitical will. "Don't let those who have served not get the rights they deserve," said Edy.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

A banner containing the participants' complaints was installed on the command vehicle in the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area, Jakarta, on Monday (7/8/2023). Hundreds of honorary health workers who are members of the Honorary Communication Forum of Health Workers and Non-Health Workers staged a demonstration demanding that the government issue special regulations to appoint honorary workers as civil servants.

Respect health workers

Separately, General Chairperson of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian National Nurses Association (PP PPNI) Harif Fadhillah said that the dismissal of health workers in Manggarai Regency showed that the local government was not serious about providing health services to the community. If the government is committed to providing good services, the availability of health workers, both quantity and quality, must be met.

Meanwhile, at present, especially in Manggarai Regency, the status and well-being of healthcare workers are uncertain, while they are required to serve the needs of the community. Information obtained from PPNI Manggarai shows that out of 249 healthcare workers whose work order letters (SPK) were not extended, 98 of them are nurses.

Also read: Our Health Workers are Stigmatized, Threatened, Not Paid

"I am very concerned about the lack of attention from the government and local authorities towards healthcare workers, especially nurses in community health centers. Attention and recognition are very lacking, even often used as temporary political commodities and then forgotten," he said.

Therefore, Harif hopes that attention and appreciation for healthcare workers should be increased. The rights that should be given to healthcare workers must be given according to the standards. This is not only the concern of the regional government, but also the central government.