South African 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 form part of an agreement with unions of an occupational-specific dispensation (OSD) for nurses signed in September this year, which resulted in R1,45-billion 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,” Tshabalala-Msimang said.
As part of the phase-one increase, the entry-level salaries for staff nurses have been raised by 20%, while entry-level salaries for nursing assistants and professional nurses in general nursing have 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.”
Tshabalala-Msimang said this represents an increase of more than 80% and will 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 will be based on the number of years of relevant experience of nursing in the various categories.
Msimang said the OSD salary adjustments represent an increase that is 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 are back-dated to July 1 2007. — Sapa