Health Workers Protest in Bucharest

Desislava Toncheva

BTA Photo

Bucharest,

11.03.2024 15:19

(BTA)

On the National Day of Medical Staff, March 11, health workers in Romania organized a Rally and March of Health in Bucharest. More than 1,000 health workers from Brasov, Sibiu, Timisoara, Giurgiu, Galati, Covasna, Harghita, Botosani, Baia Mare and other parts of the country are participating in the action, which is still ongoing.

Health workers insist on respecting the right to indexation of salary income to inflation, ensuring a real increase in salary income (increasing the purchasing power of income), receiving fair remuneration for taking risks when working in particularly dangerous, harmful, difficult, special, etc. working conditions, as well as additional financial incentives for shift work and work on weekends and holidays.

The demonstration began at 11 am local time (same time zone as Bulgaria) in front of the government building on Victoria Square and caused chaos in traffic. Protestors stressed that their salary is not enough, that they live near the poverty line and they do not even receive food vouchers anymore.

The rally on Victoria Square continued with marches to the two ministries - the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour, and moved to Constitution Square.

Meanwhile, in a press release, Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said that he is open to dialogue and is ready to meet the protesters' demands as much as possible.

Disgruntled health workers protested for more than five weeks across the country. They held a series of demonstrations in front of the Ministries of Health, Labour, Finance, as well as in the courtyards of health facilities.

/KK/