More than 30 casual workers at Moyo district hospital have gone on strike protesting against the non-payment of their salaries.
The workers cliam the contractor has failed to clear their four months salary arrears. Each of the workers is paid 30,000 shillings per month.
The workers put down their tools on Monday evening and vowed not to return to work, for as long as it takes the contractor to pay them.
Cleaning services at Moyo district hospital are being run by Carnival Business link, a private contractor. But the workers say that the contractor has done little to improve their welfare.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of losing her job, one of the workers accused the contractor of being so rude to the workers whenever they demand for their salaries. She says that it has become increasingly difficult for her to work without pay.
But Francis Lagu, the proprietor of Carnival business link, acknowledged the problem but blamed it on the chief administrative officer and the medical superintendent.
Lagu claims that his company has not been paid for the last seven months, making it difficult for him to clear the salary arrears. He claims that he was forced to withdraw money from his personal account to clear the January to March salaries.
But Dr. Franklin Idi, the medical superintendent, denies responsibility for non-payment of the workers. He says the snag in payment emerged out of the death of one of the signatories to the contractors account. He says that the hospital paid the company two months ago.
Meanwhile the workers strike has left the hospital stinking. Dr Iddi, says the garbage bins are overflowing with uncollected garbage. He fears that if the strike does not end, the poor sanitation looming at the hospital could be a recipe for cholera.
