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The Mortuary Workers Association of Ghana will on Tuesday 5th March embark on a strike to press home their demands and conditions of service.

According to them, efforts to have these demands addressed by the Labour Commission have proved futile.

Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, the General Secretary of the Association, Mr. Richard Kofi Jordan added that their conditions of service are so poor that some of the members receive a paltry two hundred Ghana Cedis (200gh).

"Our working conditions are also poor that we have informed various authorities, but they have blatantly refused to do something about it.

"Since they have refused to have our challenges addressed, we are laying down our tools from Tuesday, 5th March," he said.

He also stated there is no provision for universal medical checkups for workers, among many other illegalities they want the government to correct.

"We have sent many proposals regarding their problem in October 2017 and subsequently in June and September 2018 to the Ministry of Health but have not received any response," he added.

Some of the issues of concern which bothers on illegalities are enumerated as follows:

1. Many of the Mortuary Workers are denied perpetual their annual leave in violation of section 20 of Act 651.

2. Most Mortuary Workers work more than the required 8 hours including Saturdays and Sundays in violation of section 33 of Act 651.

3. Most have been employed as casual and temporary workers in violation of section 74 and 75 of Act 651, which does not guarantee job security especially in the environment in which they work.

4. In terms of remuneration, it is unfortunate to state that Mortuary workers are treated as most unrecognized in the sector and for that matter, least paid on the salary structure of Ministry of Health with no single allowance.

5. Many of the Mortuary facilities are understaffed, no maintenance which compromises on health and safety rules of the sector making the workers unnecessary to suffer in silence.

6. In terms of their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), some have to struggle to get them to use making the working conditions at some facilities undesirable.

7. There is no provision for universal medical checkups plan in violation of sections 118 of Act 651.

8. No overtime is paid which is in violation of section 35.

9. They are not paid for public holidays in violation of section 72 of Act 651.

10. They work on weekends on which are resting days by law which will amount to overtime but are not paid.

In summary, these are some irregularities or illegalities being perpetrated against this class of workers by the Health Ministry and its agencies with impunity.

It is, therefore, surprising that the Ministry of Health does not see these infringements on the rights of the Ghanaian Mortuary worker and is reluctant to resolving them.

Hence our resort to an industrial action (STRIKE) starting from Tuesday, 5th March, 2019.

Total withdrawal of all services until we are convinced that our concerns presented to the Ministry of Health are fully addressed.

Meanwhile, we wish to take this opportunity to sympathize with the public who will be inconvenient in this trying times.