Doctors who choose not to transition to the fixed establishment at the end of their contracts are unlikely to find jobs open to them in the public health sector, according to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Presidency’s Department of Public Service Reginald Brotherson.
Speaking with Stabroek News on Tuesday, Brotherson explained that the government is committed to allowing bonded doctors to complete their contracts, but is not in favour of having a parallel public service. “This government has always said that it is not in favour of a parallel public service and has since taken steps to have those on contracted employment transitioned to the fixed establishment,” he explained.
He noted that in the case of the mostly Cuban-trained bonded doctors, at the end of their contracts, provision will be made for them to transition through appointments by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
“There is no compulsion for the government to employ you after the end of your contract. You have completed service to the people. But in the business of provided healthcare, there needs to be doctors in the public service so the government is offering employment through PSC on the permanent pensionable establishment. The doctors can choose not to accept government’s offer,” Brotherson clarified.
Asked to explain what exactly being on the fixed establishment will mean for the doctors, Brotherson said it means guaranteed employment and the associated benefits and protections. “You have benefits such as leave and leave passage and are entitled to pension and gratuity at your retirement. You must have 10 years continuous service to have a pension at the age of 55. You are protected, you receive the gratuity at retirement and a pension that will guarantee you for life,” he stressed.
The doctors are being asked to transition to the fixed establishment as part of the APNU+AFC government’s drive to eliminate the “parallel public service” which developed as a result of the previous administration employment of a large number of contracted workers.
In 2016, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had told the National Assembly that over the next five years, government will be working to integrate contract workers into the traditional public service.
“What we have said is that we will gradually merge all of these persons who are on contract into the traditional public service. We have already entered into conversations with the Public Service Commission… Additionally, all those persons under age 45, we will give them an opportunity to get into the traditional public service,” Harmon had said in response to questions raised by opposition parliamentarians during the consideration of the 2016 budgetary estimates for the Ministry of the Presidency.
When in opposition, the constituents of the present government had repeatedly condemned the heavy use of contracted workers and went so far as to vow to “strip and dismantle” the contract system for state employees.
This action was expected to stop the destruction of security of tenure and undermining of the trade unions.
