ICN welcomes the decision of the High Court of Zimbabwe to find in favour of Zimbabwe’s nurses in their dispute with the government over working hours

ICN welcomes the decision of the High Court of Zimbabwe to find in favour of Zimbabwe’s nurses in their dispute with the government over working hours.

ICN Chief Executive officer Howard Catton said:

“We welcome this judgement and its recognition of the collective agreement between the Zimbabwe Nurses Association and the Zimbabwean government. It will come as a relief to Zimbabwe’s nurses that the High Court has recognised that agreed flexible working arrangements should remain in place, and that nurses should not be forced to go back to the previous working patterns, or face dismissal. Nurses who were removed from the payroll during this dispute should now be reinstated.

‘This is an important first step on the way to a resolution of the situation, and we would urge both sides to continue dialogue and negotiations that will lead to an acceptable way forward.

‘The root causes of the dispute in Zimbabwe are poor pay and working conditions. ICN supports the Zimbabwe Nurses Association in its actions to uphold the rights of its members and improve their quality of life. A country’s health systems and the health of its people depends on having a well-supported, respected and fairly remunerated nursing workforce.”

Photo credit: Jekesai Nijikizana-AFP