Ngige threatens to replace striking resident doctors

The Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, on Friday threatened to replace striking resident doctors if they refuse to return to work by Monday.

Ngige who made the threat while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said an employer has a right to replace an employee who abandons their duties, especially as it pertains to essential services.

“He will also withdraw your money and use it to pay those he has acquired during the period you were away,” he said.

“If you go to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles at work, it guarantees a worker the right to strike but it has consequences”.

The minister had earlier stated that he had invoked Section 43 of the Labour Act which states, in part, that for the period a worker withdraws his services, the government or his employers are not entitled to pay.

As essential workers, he also maintained that they are not expected to go on strike without notifying him at least 15 days prior.

The Labour Minister has, therefore, vowed to escalate the matter, should they fail to resume work by Monday, the expiration of the 1-week ultimatum he gave them.

“Next week, I will escalate it because the conciliation has failed and the law says that if conciliation fails on my own side, I can move it up.

“Avoiding the use of the word ‘sack’, Ngige said; there are other things that are permitted by law. I will invoke other things.

“Their employer has a right to replace them. It doesn’t matter what you want to term it. We can use Locum doctors or medical officers,” he said.

The strike, according to the aggrieved doctors is, however, expected to be indefinite.