It is pouring down the complaints of government employees who want to be allowed to join any medical aid in the country, they can be forced to be part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) only to be funded.
Their complaint will be heard at the government level, as the leaders of the trade unions complained to the Vice President of the country, Mr. Paul Mashatile yesterday, at the call of GEMS, when he opened the meeting ofNational Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), in Pretoria.
It will be recalled that the unions marched for GEMS, complaining about a 9.5% increase in wages this year. The unions want the money to be reduced, the GEMS board to be re-reviewed and an investigation to be conducted on the operation of the fund.
“The leaders told me not to touch on the GEMS fee increase. We have not discussed and we have not made a decision regarding the GEMS issue, to allow the workers to make their own choice. They complained that the workers are no longer able to withstand the GEMS fee increase and that is why they want to make their own choice,” said Mashatile.
It will be remembered that workers who are not members of GEMS do not receive funding from the government as this fund was established to provide them with inexpensive health care. Most of the workers want to be allowed to join other medical aids companies in the country but continue to be supported by the government, as they did in GEMS.
He said that those who are standing are moving forward with the implementation of health insurance in this country, the National Health Insurance.
“The NHI is a law that was passed by Parliament and signed by the President. There are those who are unhappy and take the government to court, it is something we are fighting in court and we are not stopping and we are continuing with it.”
In the matter concerning the withdrawal of American funding, which was helping in the fight against HIV/AIDS in this country, he pointed out that the government of Mr. Donald Trump has not permanently stopped the money it invests in this program.
“We are looking at plans to be able to be independent and not rely on the American government for this funding. We want that when the time comes for this funding to be cut off, then we will be able to be independent.”
He also pointed out that they are fighting crime in this country as the military has been assigned to help in this fight in the states covered in crime.
He said money has been invested in programs to strengthen borders entering the country, to stop goods entering the country illegally.
He also talked about youth unemployment, saying that it should not be normal that the level of unemployment is high.
“We must always fight for a high level of unemployed youth in this country, it should not be an acceptable thing. We know the situation is not good, some workers do not have a guarantee about their future where they are spending money,” continued Mashatile.
He also praised the role of the unions in fighting for the workers, saying that they need to fight against the scourge of job shortages in the country.