The Ministry of Health requires an additional budget of M32 million to implement the increased salary of village health workers for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
The parliamentary committee on social cluster heard this yesterday during a meeting between the ministry and the Lesotho Workers Association (LEWA).
The budgetary gap follows the ministry’s non-compliance with a Labour Court ruling classifying village health workers as public servants, and not volunteers, after years of low allowances, on October 19, 2023.
The court had determined that the minimum wage for village health workers with more than 12 months of service should be M2448,00 per month, while those with less months should receive M2242.00 monthly. Currently, village health workers receive a monthly allowance of M800.
The court also declared that village health workers are employees of the ministry, not volunteers.
The growing concerns over the delay in implementing the court order were brought to the fore during yesterday meeting.
Speaking before the committee, LEWA secretary general Hlalefang Seoaholimo indicated that for a long time, village health workers were being considered as volunteers for the ministry of health, while they do a full-time job like any other public servants.
“For years, village health workers have been treated as volunteers, while performing vital tasks and assuming full-time responsibilities equivalent to those of other public servants working for the ministry of health.
“This discrepancy in classification is not only unjust but also fails to acknowledge the dedication and importance of these individuals who have been delivering essential healthcare services in their communities without proper remuneration. Now all we want is the government to respect the court order and do as it say,” Seoaholimo said.
In what appears to be a bureaucratic stalemate, the ministries of health, public service, and finance have failed to arrive at a resolution for the much-awaited salary increment for village health workers.
The deputy principal secretary in the Ministry of Health, ‘Matšoanelo Monyopi, told the committee that an additional M32 million would be required on top of the existing M3.1 billion budget for 2025/26.
The supplemental funding would be allocated towards the remuneration of all 8039 village health workers across the country, complying with the new minimum wage.
The ministry’s budget has dropped from M3.4 billion in the 2024/25 fiscal year to M3.1 billion this current financial year.
Monyopi noted that despite attempts over the past two years, after the court order, the ministry has not received a response from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for a budget ceiling increase, prolonging the village health workers’ demands for increased compensation.
She indicated that in addition, the Ministry of Public Service had also failed to establish the necessary positions for the village health workers as ordered by the court.
“We acknowledge the work done by village health workers and we are doing everything in our control to implement the court order. We have done what we should by engaging the Ministry of Public Service asking it to establish positions for village health workers, as it is its responsibility, but it has not fulfilled,” Monyopi added.
On his part, the chairperson of the committee, Mokhothu Makhalanyane voiced concern over the inaction of multiple government ministries in fulfilling the court order.
“It is disheartening to see that the ministries of health, finance and public services who are expected to work together to implement this ruling have failed to honour their responsibility and comply with the court order.
“These are institutions charged with serving the public interest yet they have fallen short of their duty to deliver justice to these essential workers. This is uncalled for,” he bemoaned.
Makhalanyane ordered the health ministry to expedite its communication with the ministries of public service and finance to resolve the issue within 24 hrs.
