Nurses in the public health sector would receive increases of between 20% and 88% on their starting salaries, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Friday.
The increases, which would be retrospectively introduced from July this year, come as part of the occupational-specific dispensation which would see substantial improvements in the salaries of professionals in the Health Fepartment and the rest of the civil service over the next few years.
”It will make the public health sector more competitive and serve as an enabler for the repatriation of our migrant health workers in countries abroad,” Tshabalala-Msimang said.
She was speaking at the signing ceremony of the agreement between the government and labour unions.
The agreement would see entry-level salaries for staff nurses increasing by 20% from R58 290 to R70 140.
The entry-level salaries for nursing assistants and professional nurses in general nursing will both increase by 24%, from R43 245 to R53 757 and from R85 362 to R106 086 respectively.
Certain professional nurses serving in speciality areas would receive up to 88% increases depending on their current salary positions.
”I am glad that we have been able to deliver these benefits to our nurses who are the bedrock of the public health sector,” Tshabalala-Msimang said. — Sapa