- She called on doctors to obey the Employment and Labour Relations Court orders.
- The CS added that the parties involved should cooperate and act in good faith to settle the issue.
Image: JUDCIAIRY
Labour CS Florence Bore has called for dialogue between the Ministry of Health and doctors to end the ongoing medics strike.
CS Bore said all agencies must work together to end the stalemate for the benefit of Kenyans.
She said that parties involved must adhere to the law and give dialogue a chance.
"This matter has received attention at the highest level and we should have faith in each other to resolve the matter once and for all. Once more I appeal to the doctors, clinical officers and laboratory technicians to give dialogue a chance," she said.
The CS said that the Labour Relations Act, of 2007 provides that where parties have a difference, they may subject it through a dispute resolution mechanism.
She said that doctors must suspend the strike and join the table to negotiate with the employers, that is, the Ministry of Health and the 47 county governments.
CS Bore added that the union should direct its members to get back to work, this, she added will pave the way for meaningful negotiations to find a lasting resolution.
"Parties must sit and dialogue in good faith. As a ministry, our role is facilitative to promote social dialogue and respect for the rule of law," she said.
"We stand firm in defending parties’ right to freedom of association and expression which is enshrined in the Constitution but also the country’s commitment to international instruments which Kenya has signed and is party to."
The CS added that the doctors' strike should not be allowed to persist any further.
"I wish to remind the Unions, that is Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPPDU), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) and Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) that whereas the framework to exercise Freedom of Association and the Right to industrial action is provided for in the Constitution under Article 41, the right to strike is not absolute and is limited by the Constitution under Article 24 to the extent defined by law," she said.
She called on doctors to obey the Employment and Labour Relations Court orders.
The CS added that the parties involved should cooperate and act in good faith to settle the issue.
"The resolution of this dispute and lasting solution can only be found through social dialogue and the sooner parties realize this the better," she said.