The motion was referred to the government for implementation by 49 votes to 46, with 2 abstentions. The demand for the payment of a corona bonus for the staff of hospitals, retirement and nursing homes and Spitex organizations was introduced by the Health and Social Commission of the Grand Council. Specifically, it was demanded that the institutions concerned should pay out a bonus that should be refinanced by the canton.
The government council and the bourgeois parliamentary groups spoke out against a state-financed corona bonus. Health director Lukas Engelberger (center) pointed out that the canton is the owner of certain hospitals, but not the employer of the staff. So there is no legal basis for granting an employer bonus.
The canton can only compensate the actual employers, i.e. the hospitals, retrospectively for the payment of a bonus. In its report on the motion, the government mentioned a possible amount of 5 million francs.
According to Engelberger, proportionality also speaks against paying a bonus. The health workers were affected differently: While there was a lot of stress on the one hand, other employees had to accept minus hours and short-time work.
In addition, other professional groups were also exposed to great stress, such as the sales staff or parcel deliverers. A one-sided preference of the health workers could result in a subjectively perceived feeling of injustice, said Engelberger.
The demand ultimately led to an emotionally charged debate in the Council, which once again opened up a deep rift between the left-green and the bourgeois parliamentary groups.
Spokespersons for the SP and GAB emphasized that appreciation of the canton was urgently needed, while spokesmen for bourgeois parliamentary groups said that the canton should invest its money in better working conditions and not in “nicely meant” bonus payments.
–
