Health volunteers to protest bonus cut

Health volunteers to protest bonus cut

Anutin: Proposed 500 baht extra sum
Anutin: Proposed 500 baht extra sum

Representatives of health volunteers on the coronavirus frontline will rally at Government House on Wednesday to protest a plan to slash a bonus to reward them for their hard work by more than 50%.

Health volunteer leader Chamras Khamrod said yesterday representatives from all regions will register their dismay at a National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) suggestion to reduce the proposed extra monthly payments from 19 months to seven months.

The volunteers, dubbed "the white gown warriors", will meet Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to ask him to convey their concern to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

"The NESDC should have consulted us first so it understands what health volunteers have done to bring Covid-19 under control, and what we have sacrificed," Mr Chamras said after a meeting of representatives from all provinces in Nonthaburi.

Mr Anutin, who is a deputy prime minister, has proposed to augment the 1,000 baht monthly payment to all health volunteers with an extra 500 baht for 19 months as a reward for their successful containment of the pandemic in the country.

The money was to come from the Public Health Ministry's share of the 1.9-trillion-baht financial relief package to mitigate the virus impact.

The NESDC reviewed the proposal and instead favoured additional payments for only seven months.

The final call will be made by the government as the move still needs cabinet approval.

"We will not complain if the final decision is seven months because it is volunteer work. We will only be disappointed," said Mr Chamras, who is a volunteer in Chachoengsao.

Thailand has about 1 million health volunteers in villages across the country, each receiving 1,000 baht a month.

They work to protect their villages from Covid-19 and are regarded as an at-risk group due to their close contact with at-risk individuals.

Amarin Nimnuan, a volunteer in Chon Buri representing the Central region, said health volunteers will continue to work regardless of the final decision but called for understanding of the situation from the state planning agency.

"If there are new cases, we will be the first ones to be infected. NESDC officials who work in their air-conditioned rooms should understand this," he said on the health volunteer Facebook page.

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