NewsWhore
04-19-2010, 04:00 PM
Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa says that the government is unable to fund a 30% increase in wages, in reaction to reports of an agreement between Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas and the Dominican Medical Association (CMD), which represents public hospital doctors. CMD president Dr. Senen Caba said that Bengoa is creating confusion with his statements.
At a press conference on Thursday, Bengoa said that although several proposals were discussed during the meetings with the CMD, the government did not propose a 30% wage rise. "It was them," he said. He said that another meeting was needed.
He expressed concern at the fact that the CMD had announced an agreement, when the parties had agreed that the discussions would not be made public until a definite agreement had been reached. He said he proposed that the Hacienda Ministry would need a week to make the calculations following the CMD proposal and bring these to the discussion table. "We have an agreement with the IMF and any increase in wages needs to be compatible with the letter of intent," he said.
Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, who was also present at the meeting, has also clarified this, according to Bengoa. He stated that the government's stance was not the one with which the CMD went public.
He said that President Leonel Fernandez was very interested in reaching an agreement with the doctors, and more so because the CMD's new leadership has been more open to talks. He said that past strikes by the CMD affected the poor, the main users of public hospital services. The next meeting between the government and the CMD is scheduled for Wednesday, 21 April.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)
At a press conference on Thursday, Bengoa said that although several proposals were discussed during the meetings with the CMD, the government did not propose a 30% wage rise. "It was them," he said. He said that another meeting was needed.
He expressed concern at the fact that the CMD had announced an agreement, when the parties had agreed that the discussions would not be made public until a definite agreement had been reached. He said he proposed that the Hacienda Ministry would need a week to make the calculations following the CMD proposal and bring these to the discussion table. "We have an agreement with the IMF and any increase in wages needs to be compatible with the letter of intent," he said.
Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, who was also present at the meeting, has also clarified this, according to Bengoa. He stated that the government's stance was not the one with which the CMD went public.
He said that President Leonel Fernandez was very interested in reaching an agreement with the doctors, and more so because the CMD's new leadership has been more open to talks. He said that past strikes by the CMD affected the poor, the main users of public hospital services. The next meeting between the government and the CMD is scheduled for Wednesday, 21 April.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)