Yingluck To Meet Nurses To Prevent Strike: Thailand

[webfact]

PM to meet nurses to prevent strike

Puangchompoo Prasert

The Nation

BANGKOK Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to meet with nurses' representatives on Monday to address discontent over their continued temporary-employee status.

The move is seen as an attempt to head off the nurses' threatened three-day strike.

"She will meet with the nurses' representatives at Government House," Public Health Ministry deputy permanent secretary Dr Suphan Srithamma said yesterday.

Thousands of nurses have staged protests this year to demand that the government honour its promise to recruit them as civil servants. They are unhappy that they have been working at state hospitals for years but continue to be denied the status.

Their representatives have lately threatened to begin a three-day strike on January 1 if the government continues to ignore their plight.

Suphan yesterday said Yingluck would explain to the nurses' representatives that the government and the Public Health Ministry is trying to solve the problem.

About 17,000 nurses have been working as temporary employees.

"Due to certain regulations, we may not be able to recruit all [nurses] as civil servants at once. But we should be able to recruit them first as employees of the Public Health Ministry," he said.

"The remuneration will be similar."

Ministry employees will also be entitled to educational leave, he said.

Suphan said relevant authorities would conclude a solution by mid-December, with the whole problem being completely tackled within three years.

He expected the nurses to welcome the government's plan. He also hoped that they would not go on strike.

"A strike would adversely affect patients," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 30

[jaltsc]

I hear Yingluck is bringing 17,000 sacks of rice in order to appease the nurses

[Ricardo]

Wouldn't it be simpler, just to give the nurses what they're asking for, a proper job-contract with the places they work in ?

[bigbamboo]

Will the nurses get the sisterly support Yingluck's big brother said was lacking in parliament during the censure debate?

[whybother]

This is a slap in the face to Suphan, who wasn't worried about the nurses strike.

[MaxLee]

Yingluck: "Oh, you poor nurses, I see you have a problem, but don't worry, I will let the Health Ministry know about this problem to take measurements and handle with this situation,..... good bye, everyone ....

[rucus7]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

[geriatrickid]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

[whybother]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

"Where is the money to come from?" ... From the Rice Subsidies ... 420 BILLION baht.

[patjem]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

Most Functioning governments in other countries manage this, through allotment of government budgets, funded by collected taxes, etc. The problem with the PT government is they'd too busy siphoning off such funds for themselves. The money could and should be available.

[mrtoad]

Same problems around the world with regards to Nurse pay and proper contracts.

[Zooheekock]

Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

That's less than 0.5% of the health budget.

[bigbamboo]

Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

That's less than 0.5% of the health budget.

Where is the money to come from?

Well there's that Navy deal for a start.

[Payboy]

Yingluck To Meet Nurses To Prevent Strike

Grin and bear it Nurses, this will only hurt a little bit.

[Newguy70]

Has anyone watched the amount of work a Thai nurse does in a Thai hospital, It's a joke. Let them strike...

It's a very simple observation. If you disagree. Step inside a government hospital and have a look for yourself....

Edited November 30, 2012 by Newguy70

[billd766]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

The money could come from any amount of useless government policies and if a billion baht was lopped from the rice pledging program it wouldn't even be noticed.

As for the private hospitals, they would love to match the pay and benefits given to state nurses as they wouldn't have to pay out so much themselves.

[longtom]

Has anyone watched the amount of work a Thai nurse does in a Thai hospital, It's a joke. Let them strike...

It's a very simple observation. If you disagree. Step inside a government hospital and have a look for yourself....

My experience is totally the opposite.. Private hospitals, half of the nurses are there to look pretty and not much else. Lots of experienced hard working nurses in the governement hospitals I visited.

Edited November 30, 2012 by longtom

[waza]

Same problems around the world with regards to Nurse pay and proper contracts.

and with Drs salaries, bonuses and benefits, but they are mainly men. Anyway back to the topic.

Yingluck to the rescue.............

[lungmi]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

Thailand has the money, the corrupt gouvernment prefers to send the money of Thailand elsewhere without any transparency.

Your post is the post of a hack lawyer.

[Baerboxer]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

Thailand has the money, the corrupt gouvernment prefers to send the money of Thailand elsewhere without any transparency.

Your post is the post of a hack lawyer.

You're being very unfair to hack lawyers!

"There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures."

[akampa]

the nurses must get the extra pay i spent 3 months with my new born son in ICU who sadly did not survive but the nurses and doctors were absolutely marvelous they deserve every penny (baht) they get.

[OzMick]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

Do you have comprehension problems?

"Due to certain regulations, ....... we should be able to recruit them first as employees of the Public Health Ministry," he said."The remuneration will be similar."

It appears that money is not the problem. The real question is why employees of the Ministry are not considered to be public servants.

The meeting with Yingluk should be interesting, they have sooo much in common. At the least, they are both temporary employees.

[bigbamboo]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

Do you have comprehension problems?

"Due to certain regulations, ....... we should be able to recruit them first as employees of the Public Health Ministry," he said."The remuneration will be similar."

It appears that money is not the problem. The real question is why employees of the Ministry are not considered to be public servants.

The meeting with Yingluk should be interesting, they have sooo much in common. At the least, they are both temporary employees.

Yes and no, Mick.

One difference is the nurses are qualified to do their job.

Edited November 30, 2012 by bigbamboo

[khunken]

Remember that the nurses are not a big block of voters. Money is thrown around on rice scams, fuel subsidies, car subsidies, bus fare subsidies, & others.

Not saying all those are wrong - if they were free of corruption - but giving the nurses what they are asking for (not much in reality) would cost less than 0.1% of current subsidies.

[Zooheekock]

One difference is the nurses are qualified to do their job.

Yingluck was elected. In a democracy (regulations such as not falsifying documents about your military service aside), that's the beginning and end of the qualification process.

[khunken]

One difference is the nurses are qualified to do their job.

Yingluck was elected. In a democracy (regulations such as not falsifying documents about your military service aside), that's the beginning and end of the qualification process.

Correction: her party received the most votes (?). She was shoe-horned into the leadership by her criminal brother. I suppose if you are gullible enough to believe the witch hunt over alleged forged documents you will believe that Thailand has a democracy.

[culicine]

I hope the nurses stick to their guns. Going out on strike will certainly raise awareness as to their plight. Many Thai professionals are grossly underpaid. Nurses are only the tip of the iceberg.

If the government .Increase the number of nurses that have full time contracts as regular civil servants this means extending all of the benefits that go along with the position. Unfortunately, the MoH does not have the money to do this. It would be an expensive proposition and grant nurses additional costly benefits in respect to the existing agreements on pensions, vacations, job security and health benefits. I ballpark this cost at billions of baht over the expected employment cycle of the nurses. Think about it. Let's say the benefits provided amount to 20,000baht per nurse per annum (and that's a conservative estimate). 17,000 X 20,000 = 340,000,000 baht. After 3 years that would be over 1billion baht. Where is the money to come from?

There is also a very powerful interest group that doesn't want to see the situation change: The private hospitals. They would be forced to match the pay and benefits and this could seriously arode the profits for some of these money making ventures.

The nurses have good reason to expect to be treated fairly. Unfortunately, Thailand just doesn't have the money to do it as things stand now.

"Where is the money to come from?" ... From the Rice Subsidies ... 420 BILLION baht.

This government would have plenty of money if it was not for greedy politicians pilfering the coffers...not to mention the wealthy not paying the correct amount of tax...

[Zooheekock]

Correction: her party received the most votes (?). She was shoe-horned into the leadership by her criminal brother. I suppose if you are gullible enough to believe the witch hunt over alleged forged documents you will believe that Thailand has a democracy.

Not a hugely successful attempt to split hairs: her party receiving the most votes and her being elected are...the same thing. And despite the best efforts of some, Thailand does have a democracy - it's far from perfect but it's unarguably a democracy. As for Abhisit, well, the rules are pretty stupid but they are the rules (a bit like being kicked out of office for cooking on TV) and it seems like he broke them and lied about it. And it's not as if he doesn't have form for this kind of thing (dual citizenship anyone?). Still, none of that is very relevant to nurses.

[khunken]

Correction: her party received the most votes (?). She was shoe-horned into the leadership by her criminal brother. I suppose if you are gullible enough to believe the witch hunt over alleged forged documents you will believe that Thailand has a democracy.

Not a hugely successful attempt to split hairs: her party receiving the most votes and her being elected are...the same thing. And despite the best efforts of some, Thailand does have a democracy - it's far from perfect but it's unarguably a democracy. As for Abhisit, well, the rules are pretty stupid but they are the rules (a bit like being kicked out of office for cooking on TV) and it seems like he broke them and lied about it. And it's not as if he doesn't have form for this kind of thing (dual citizenship anyone?). Still, none of that is very relevant to nurses.

I agree with you about the relevancy to the nurses. Dual citizenship is form? laughable. Oh, and contrary to another of your statements, Samak was kicked out for lying about receiving money for a TV program. You seem to have swallowed the PTP/red-shirt kool aid.

[geriatrickid]

Most Functioning governments in other countries manage this, through allotment of government budgets, funded by collected taxes, etc. The problem with the PT government is they'd too busy siphoning off such funds for themselves. The money could and should be available.

There are two issues, the key being reality. Yes, you and others are correct: If there was less corruption and a proper tax collection sytem, there most likely would be sufficient funds to cover the additional costs. Unfortunately, we have to accept the reality, that Thailand is a long way off from that state. Yes, their are programs that could be cut, particularly the bloated military budget, which is one of the largest expenditures in the country. It won't happen though. Rather than deal with hypotheticals, one has to work with the cards that are dealt.

Even in countries with a less corrupt characteristic and a solid tax base, there is a similar problem. In regions of North America, the shortage of nurses is so severe, that government health agencies are obliged to "poach" nurses from other countries. The complaints of nurses in those jurisdictions mirror those of the Thai nurses: wages and working conditions. It takes 5 -10 years to train sufficient nurses to relieve personnel issues. Many western countries won't fund the training or provide the "incentives" to attract staff because of budgetary reasons. So, you see, even in the perfect west, the issue always boils down to the discretionary provincial/federal/statebudget.

In respect to the private hospitals, these are owned by some powerful and influential group that will do what needs to be done to protect their vested interests. These hospitals pay slightly better salaries than the public sector in respect to nurses. However, they do not provide comparable benefits including pensions to those paid "civil servants". If the nurses were brought into the civil service, these private hospitals would face serious staffing issues as their employee pool evaporated. They would have to up their pay and benefits. This would hit their bottom line and the fat cats are going to resist.