Hundreds of social workers plan to go on strike, demand increased salaries
The Social Service Agency and the Ministry of Health have already been informed about the strike. Photo: 1tv.ge.
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A total of 390 employees of the Social Service Agency of the Ministry of Health is preparing to go on strike on January 17 if their salaries are not increased by 100 per cent, lawyer of the professional union Solidarity Network Davit Omsarashvili said earlier today.
Omsarashvili said the monthly salary of social workers had been set at 250 GEL ($80/€70) for about 12 years without a pay rise, in addition to the workers not being covered by health insurance and often having to cover work-related transportation costs themselves.
The lawyer said the workers had been demanding "decent working conditions and salaries for years", with "failed" talks with the agency leading to their decision to go on strike.
Omsarashvili said both the Social Service Agency and the Ministry of Health had been informed about the strike.
The Minister of Health of Georgia Zurab Azarashvili has responded to an ongoing strike by 390 social service workers by saying a plan by the Social Service Agency, the public body employing the group, to increase their salaries starting next month is “adequate”.
Georgian social workers, who say that their rights remain unprotected, may go on strike starting Monday if the Heath Ministry officials refuse to meet with them this week.
A large-scale strike of Georgia’s social workers has been underway since 8:30 am across the country.
Georgian social workers have ended their strike after reaching an agreement with the Social Service Agency of the Ministry of Health to increase salaries and provide transportation.