Nurses’ Nightmare: 6 Months of Overtime Pay Delay

Nurses working in the public sector have been up in arms over the delayed payment of their overtime work. According to several nurses from regional hospitals, they have been waiting for six months to receive their due pay for extra hours worked.

The issue came to light after the Ministry of Health’s budget was revised upwards for the current financial year. Nurses are now hoping to finally receive their long-awaited payments.

In March, nurses received payment for hours worked in November. However, as of June, they have yet to receive payments for December.

“We are still waiting for our December payments,” one nurse explained. “We have officially requested explanations and were told that the Ministry of Health’s coffers are empty.”

This has left many nurses feeling demotivated and demoralized. “It’s disheartening and discouraging when we work hard and don’t receive anything,” said another nurse.

Nurses working in the public sector receive a fixed rate of Rs 1,540 for daytime overtime and Rs 2,200 for night shifts, which are taxable.

However, they pointed out that their salaries are much lower than those in the private sector, where rates can range from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per month.

As a result, some nurses have been forced to leave Mauritius to work in other countries, including the UK, where they take on second jobs to make ends meet.

Several nurses have revealed that they have taken up part-time jobs as plumbers, drivers, carpenters, and even manual laborers to supplement their income.

“It’s sad to say that a laborer earns more than us per day,” said one nurse. “We are struggling to make ends meet.”

The nurses also pointed out that many of their colleagues have taken vacation leaves and leaves without pay to seek better-paying jobs in the private sector or abroad.

The situation has become even more challenging with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to an increase in workload but limited personnel.

“It’s difficult today to follow a patient from start to finish due to the heavy workload and limited staff,” said another nurse.

The nurses expressed frustration over the lack of consideration shown by their employer. “When we refuse to work extra hours, we face all sorts of pressure,” said one nurse.

“Last month, doctors, ambulance workers, and general workers were paid. But not us. There is no consideration for us.”

The nurses’ plight highlighted the challenges faced by public sector employees in Mauritius, where salaries are often lower than those in the private sector.

Source: l’Express