Waiting for a Solution to the Dismissal of 249 Health Workers in Manggarai

A total of 249 health workers in Manggarai, NTT, who were fired by the regional government for regional financial reasons, are waiting for a solution.

KOMPAS/FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Hundreds of honorary health workers who are members of the Honorary Communication Forum for Health and Non-Health Workers demanded the government to issue special regulations so that honorary personnel can be appointed as civil servants, on Monday (8/7/2023).

Dismissal of 249 honorary and contract health workers in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, awaiting a solution. The regional government argued that regional financial problems were inadequate to increase honorariums in accordance with the demands of health workers for wage increases.

Regent of Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Herybertus GL Nabit admitted that the Manggarai local government has deactivated 249 health workers with honorary and contract status since April 1, 2024. The decision was made after considering several factors.

We are also monitoring the impacts of this condition. If it has serious effects, we will carry out a selection of several previously furloughed healthcare workers to be recruited again.

Herybertus then explained the issue. The healthcare workers were initially recruited from 2014-2016 by the former regent as supporters of activity implementers (PPK).

"The duties of PPK personnel include, among other things, dealing with tuberculosis, malnutrition, HIV and family planning. They are paid Rp. 400,000-Rp. 600,000 per month for honorary workers, and contract workers according to the regional minimum wage, around Rp. 2 million per month. "They are placed in every puskesmas and pustu (supporting health centers), not in regional general hospitals," said Herybertus when contacting Kompas in Kupang, Thursday (18/4/2024).

Since 2023, the Manggarai District Government has tried to maintain the existence of honorary and contract health workers even though there are regulations that allow their dismissal, as has been done by several districts in NTT. The Manggarai Regional Government considers that their presence is still very much needed to achieve development targets in the health sector, in addition to reducing the unemployment rate which has a wide impact.

Also read: 249 Health Workers fired in Manggarai NTT

KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Alfons (36), a health worker at the Bakunase Community Health Center, Kupang City, received the vaccine, Tuesday (19/1/2021).

However, according to Herybertus, on February 6, 2024, these healthcare workers visited the regent's office. They were received by the Manggarai Regency Secretary, Fansi Jahang. They inquired about the delay in the issuance of the appointment letters. They also demanded that everyone be appointed without selection processes citing their long-term service.

The next demand is urgent proposal of as many healthcare workers as possible to the central government for the government employee program with a work agreement (PPPK) and appointment as ASN. Healthcare workers from Manggarai must be prioritized in the appointment process.

Next, the wages of healthcare workers which are currently at Rp 400,000-Rp 600,000 per month must be increased to Rp 2 million-Rp 3 million per month. The consideration is that the cost of living continues to rise. All the above demands that must be immediately realized, according to him, are difficult to fulfill because of limited regional finances.

Likewise, contract workers who have been paid IDR 2 million per month, which is in accordance with the minimum wage, will face difficulties for the region if there is an increase. "If they demand more, the regional finances will be limited. The regional budget has been set, it cannot be tinkered with," he said.

The local government has openly conveyed the issue of regional financial limitations to the protesters. They request that they be patient. Indeed, it is not easy to live on a salary of Rp 400,000 or Rp 600,000 per month amid continually rising commodity prices. However, this condition is not only experienced by healthcare workers in Manggarai, but also by the majority of honorary staff in government offices.

Also read: Nakes Fired in Manggarai, Ensure Their Rights Are Properly Given

KORNELIS KEWA AMA

The nurses at RSUD Yohanes Kupang appear busy every day. They help patients selflessly, including those categorized as ODP and PDP.

Some demands are being pursued and some are conveyed to the central government. However, on March 12, 2024, the protest continued with the same demands. "I think this is no longer a normal protest, but a demonstration with another motive ahead of the 2024 regional elections. Several demands from the first protest are currently being pursued by me. In this demonstration, they also went to the DPRD building and read out the same demands," said Herybertus.

He said that healthcare workers also have to respect and uphold discipline and loyalty towards their superiors, including the local government. They also have to show loyalty and discipline as a part of their service to the nation.

He also regrets that there were some irrelevant issues brought up in the public speech. For example, regarding the wealth of the regent whose sources of information cannot be accounted for. He suspects that there are parties who intentionally exploit this situation for the benefit of the local election on November 27, 2024.

Also read: Five Regencies in NTT Appoint Elected Regent and Deputy Regent

KORNELIS KEWA AMA

Five regents and five deputy regents, each from Manggarai, West Manggarai, Ngada, East Sumba, and North Central Timor, posed for a photo after being inaugurated by NTT Governor Viktor Bungtilu Laiskodat in Kupang on Friday (26/2/2021).

Regarding the impacts of the layoffs, the health department and related parties are conducting monitoring and evaluation in the field. If there are serious impacts, a selection will be made among several health workers who have been laid off, of course in accordance with needs and procedures. Not all laid off health workers will be called back to work.

Herybertus stated that the healthcare workers have issued a written apology regarding the recent demonstration they held. As planned, they will meet the regent on Friday (19/4/2024).

Regarding the significant increase in the wealth of the Regent of Manggarai, as raised by several parties, he stated that his wealth did not increase. Herybertus owns three plots of land in Labuan Bajo, inherited from his parents. In 2019, the land prices there, based on the taxable object sale value (NJOP), ranged from Rp 400,000 to Rp 600,000 per square meter.

In 2022/2023, the NJOP will increase to Rp 7 million-Rp 8 million per square meter. Consequently, the reported wealth of state officials will also increase. This matter has been known by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and other related parties.

Also read: Sailing to meet patients to remote areas of the country

Previously, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, Edy Wuryanto, in Jakarta on Tuesday (16/4/2024), said that the dismissal of healthcare workers in Manggarai Regency as a result of the non-extension of the healthcare workers' work order by the Regent of Manggarai should be a joint concern. He considered the issue to be a structural problem that must be addressed by the central and local governments.

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.

Nikodemus Jehadin (42), one of the laid-off health worker members, stated that he still hopes for the good intentions of the regent to return the health workers to their original positions. The aspirations they conveyed some time ago were part of efforts to improve health services in Manggarai. A better wage will have an impact on more quality and professional service and dedication.

They plan to have a dialogue with the regent this Friday. "We hope that the meeting will produce positive results for all members of the healthcare workers who have been furloughed. Most of us are already married and have spouses and children. Just during this furlough period, we have been struggling to support our families," he said.

The nurses, on the other hand, are in a dilemma because their average age is above 30 years old. It would be more difficult for them to find work in new places. The hope is that the local government can provide a solution to the issue of nurses in that area.