Hospital cleaners in South down tools

CLEANERS at the Keetmanshoop State Hospital downed tools for two hours yesterday to protest delays in their overtime payments.

The aggrieved workers demanded a meeting with the Karas Regional Health Director, Pume Katjiuajo. They want him to explain the delay.According to the workers’ spokesperson, Tina Goliath, Katjiuajo refused to meet them.Goliath said Katjiuajo told them that he had not been notified of the demonstration.However, Goliath maintained that the director’s office had been informed in advance via the Hospital’s Control Officer, Bennie Diergaardt.The workers are also unhappy about new overtime pay rates, Goliath said.The cleaners, who are lowly paid and depend heavily on overtime to augment their salaries, claim they have not received overtime for three months.Katjiuajo could not be reached for comment.They want him to explain the delay.According to the workers’ spokesperson, Tina Goliath, Katjiuajo refused to meet them.Goliath said Katjiuajo told them that he had not been notified of the demonstration.However, Goliath maintained that the director’s office had been informed in advance via the Hospital’s Control Officer, Bennie Diergaardt.The workers are also unhappy about new overtime pay rates, Goliath said.The cleaners, who are lowly paid and depend heavily on overtime to augment their salaries, claim they have not received overtime for three months.Katjiuajo could not be reached for comment.