Health sector workers face cuts to graveyard shift allowance

Technical staff at the healthcare sector, including doctors, nurses and lab technicians, have been subject to a cut in their graveyard shift allowance.

The pay framework released by the Finance Ministry after the health sector pay bump in May 2023 required for health sector workers working on shift-basis to be paid an allowance of MVR 100 for the 12:00 am to 06:00 am shift.

But the allowance was reduced to MVR 60 following a revision in August. However, the MVR 40 allowance for the 06:00 am to 10:00 am shift remains unchanged.

Technical staff including doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians, were subject to the reduced allowance when they were paid their salaries for September.

Several healthcare professionals have expressed frustration over the cut, stating that the original MVR 100 allowance itself did not sufficiently take into account the high workload during graveyard shifts with fewer workers, much less the new MVR 40 allowance.

Some doctors have also expressed frustration at having to report to work even during their off day after six-straight days of working shifts due to staff shortages at public hospitals.

They accuse government officials of failing their promise to address staff shortages.

The latest move follows a cap in overtime pay for civil servants.