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R1.4bn pay boost for nurses
14/12/2007 20:08 - (SA)
Bloemfontein - SA nurses have received significant salary increases including back-pay of up to six months, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Friday in Bloemfontein.
She said the increases formed part of an agreement with unions of an occupational specific dispensation (OSD) for nurses signed in September 2007, which resulted in R1.45bn being made available.
"There will be two phases to the salary adjustments which is the minimum adjustment in line with the OSD - and then secondly the recalculation and progression based on recognition of relevant experiences," Msimang said.
As part of the phase one increase, the entry level salaries for staff nurses were being raised by 20%, while entry level salaries for nursing assistants and professional nurses in general nursing had been hiked by 24%.
"Professional nurses entering the speciality dispensation for the first time will receive a significant translation from R85 000 per annum pre-OSD to R160 000 per annum on implementation of the OSD."
Msimang said this represented an increase of more than 80% and would go a long way in redressing the past disparities and making nursing in the public health system a better career choice.
Phase two of OSD salary adjustments would be based on the number of years of relevant experience of nursing in the various categories.
Msimang said the OSD salary adjustments represented an increase which was over and above the 7.5% general salary adjustment reached, following negotiations at the end of the public service strike earlier this year.
The increases were back-dated to July 1 2007.
- SAPA
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