LETTER | Give contract doctors job security, better career opportunities

LETTER | Government contract doctors carried out mass walkouts at 11am on July 26 as part of their nationwide strike action to demand job security and better career opportunities.

They protested at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Sungai Buloh Hospital, Shah Alam Hospital, Serdang Hospital, Selayang Hospital, Ampang Hospital, Putrajaya Hospital and Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang.

MTUC Selangor and Federal Territory understood that participants assigned to critical care departments staged walked out at 11am after "pass-over" or transfer of duties to the permanent doctor on duty ensuring that the care of hospital patients is not be jeopardised in any way.

Contract medical officers are protesting the system because:

1. We understood that their grade promotion is different from their permanent counterparts, despite doing the same amount of work.
2. Do not get to enjoy the work benefits offered to public servants. These include study leave, maternity leave, the ability to apply for housing loans, and entitlement to time-based promotions.
3. Do not have the opportunity to specialise, as entrance into master's programmes in public universities is only granted to permanent civil servants.
4. No rights to study leave.
5. Have to resign, pay for their own training, and apply to re-join the service if they would like to advance in their careers.
6. Contract medical officers are not granted job security. Contract renewals have no clear policy and are not automatically given out based on years of service or merit. Some fear termination at the end of their contracts despite years of study and compulsory training.

They had submitted a memorandum of their claim and have waited patiently for a settlement that was not duly considered.

Last Friday, the government offered to extend their contracts for up to four years but did not address their core claims of equal treatment with their permanent counterparts.

They rightly feel the offer as “half-cooked" and "sugarcoating" and vowed to continue with the plan to hold a strike.

They also complained that they were issued threats against participating in the strike.

The doctors pleaded that they do not want to have a demonstration or protest. All they want is for the government to give contract doctors equal rights with those who have permanent status.

They are determined that if the memorandum demands are not met, they will continue with their action until the government comes forward.

MTUC as a national voice and conscience of all workers in Malaysia standing in solidarity with the contract doctors:

1. Calls on the government to immediately offer them a comprehensive deal that provides job security and career prospects as currently enjoyed by permanent doctors.
2. Reminds all authorities to respect the struggle of the doctors in the spirit of good governance and industrial harmony.
3. Cautions those concerned that it will not sit idle if the doctors and in particular those working in Selangor, Putrajaya or Kuala Lumpur and are actively struggling for their rightful claims are threatened, intimidated or penalised in any way.

The writer is the chairperson of MTUC Selangor and Federal Territory.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.