Liberian Healthcare Workers Strike, Demand Risk Bonus

Since its first outbreak in Guinea in December, 2013, Ebola has hit West African healthcare providers disproportionately hard, according to the World health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland).

Claimed by the WHO as the worst health crisis in modern times, the Ebola outbreak has killed more than 4,000 people to date, mostly in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and the hardest-hit country of all, Liberia. But despite the eminent threat, healthcare workers across Liberia went on strike on October 14, 2014, demanding danger money to care for Ebola patients. Over 95 Liberian health workers have died so far in the epidemic, and their surviving colleagues want pay corresponding to the acute risk of dealing with Ebola, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids and for which there is no vaccine or widely available treatment.


But even without taking into account the risk involved, many Liberian healthcare workers were not even being paid their regular wage to combat an epidemic that has killed more than 2,300 in Liberia and overwhelmed its health service. While workers at clinics backed by the WHO are promised a monthly wage of USD 750 for nurses and lab technicians, and USD 500 for other caregivers, wages for workers of the Liberian healthcare system are as low as USD 250 a month, according to the chairman of the National Health Workers Association of Liberia (NHWAL), Joseph Tamba.

“Health workers across the country have downed tools as we asked them to do,” said Mr. Tamba, in an interview with the AFP news agency. “If she [Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf] can tell us plain blank 'Look, there is no money for you people', we will sit down. We don't have to fight her.”

The NHWAL is also demanding more protective equipment and insurance for workers, and has accused the government of not providing enough protection from the virus. In their response, the Liberian government said a strike would have negative consequences on those suffering from Ebola, and would adversely affect the progress against the epidemic made so far. The government added that the scale of the epidemic means it now cannot afford the risk fee originally agreed upon.

“We are working with them the best way we possibly can, so that they understand we should have a common interest in saving lives by fighting this disease,” said Liberian Information Minister Lewis Brown, adding that the government had asked health workers to be reasonable.

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