Cotonou, Benin - Striking health sector workers in Benin are expected to resume work in the next few days, after the government agreed to improve their risk bonuses, the main reason for the strike, PANA learnt Tuesday from official sources in Cotonou. Under the agreement reached between the government and social partners, the government decided to increase, as from 1 April, the risk bonus given to paramedical and administrative staff working in public health facilities and hospitals, and other staffers not in the sector.

The government has also withdrawn the complaint it lodged with the court to bring the union officials to justice. 

However, unionists are saying the resumption of work would be contingent upon the application of the ministerial decree setting the allowances.

In 2007, the government, via a Ministerial order, had awarded special risk bonuses to health workers involved in the public sector.

But the government later suspended the bonuses, because it would require CFA 7 billion on a yearly basis to implement, an amount the government felt was unreasonable. 

Pana 02/02/2011