Dear Minister of Health,
On behalf of the members of the health union GÖD, we are turning to you today to once again draw attention to the gross injustice of the current heavy work regulations, which especially affect health and care professions. These professions, which make a significant contribution to our society, are at a great disadvantage with the current regulations, and we demand that this unequal treatment be corrected immediately.
According to the current regulations, workers in many work groups must do 120 hours of hard work each month in order for this month to be recognized as a hard work month. However, stricter standards apply to workers in the health and care professions: they must work 180 hours of hard work to receive the same recognition. This corresponds to an additional third hour of working hours – an unreasonable additional burden for these already highly challenged professional bodies.
Nurses and medical workers face physical and emotional challenges every day that often go beyond what is considered bad in other professions. The constant contact with sick people and people in need of care, the great responsibility for their well-being as well as the frequent time pressure and lack of staff represent a great stress until the same number of months of hard work to accomplish with Workers in other fields. This additional burden is against the principle of equal treatment and is not allowed.
On behalf of the health union GÖD, we urgently ask you, Mr. Minister of Health, to put an end to this unequal treatment immediately. It is essential to focus on the real burden on employees and change the monthly assessment from daily assessment to hourly assessment with 120 hours for all professional groups.
Fair regulation would not only benefit those affected by it, but it would also send a clear signal of respect to those professions that play a central role in our society. People in health and care professions contribute significantly to the well-being of our society every day. This work should be respected not only, but also due consideration in legal regulations.
We therefore appeal to you to address this issue during this legislative period and take the necessary steps to reform the heavy labor regulations for fairness and justice.
We publish this letter to draw public attention to this urgent need. The time has come for a fair and just change in Heavy Labor Regulations.
Best wishes
Reinhard Waldhör
Chairman of the health union GÖD
