Suriname health workers strike over unpaid increase

A possible health crisis is looming in Suriname as health workers continue to stay off the job over the failure of the government to pay outstanding salary increases.



Workers at the Academic Hospital have been on strike for the past seven days, while their colleagues at another hospital joined the industrial action yesterday.



There are about 2,000 health workers in Suriname.



In addition, the General Union of Nurses has warned that its members are prepared to stay off the job as long as possible.



Union president Michael Miskin says the workers have been waiting for more than 11 months for the new salaries.



However, he says he has been unable to persuade workers to accept a provisional agreement reached last Friday with the health minister, where health workers would receive the new salaries by March 5.