The Star reports that the Gauteng Department of Health has come under sharp scrutiny for its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

On Tuesday, the leadership of the Independent Liberation and Allied Workers’ Union (Ilawu) and members picketed outside the Hillbrow Clinic for permanent employment. They pointed out that over the past ten years their employment has been on the basis of fixed term contracts. Ilawu general secretary Siphamandla Masimula said they felt obliged to raise their unhappiness about the continuous lack of permanent recognition of the EPWP workers. Top of their demands was that all the EPWP workers be immediately employed on a permanent basis and absorbed in the same way that the community health-care workers were absorbed. The union’s memorandum also highlighted the union’s demand that all the EPWP workers be immediately given a Covid-19 allowance, as they continued to risk their lives during the pandemic. It read: “We demand that all the EPWP workers who lost their lives on duty as a result of Covid-19 be immediately compensated as per the Compensation of Injuries on Duty Act.” The union also demanded that all the EPWP workers should qualify for all the benefits enjoyed by the health-care workers. As the picket gained momentum, an official from the Department of Health was said to be on his way to address the crowd. However, this did not materialise, leaving the union feeling aggrieved.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gift Tlou at The Star

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