NHLS employees picket over PEE, wages

Nehawu members, working at the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), held a lunchtime picket outside their offices on Friday.

They are unhappy over the lack of protective gear and the fact that they have not received a salary increase.

Nehawu as previously threatened to hold a full-blown strike if their demands were not met.

Benny Lathane, who works at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases’ centre for TB, says there are concerns over the quality of the masks.

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"The first batch of masks we got were like underwears, panties and as part of the department of health - if you're giving us those inferior masks...

"Even today we have not even got proper PPE. We are worried about what standards we are setting, because everybody is supposed to be taking the standard march from us in terms of PPE.”

NHLS admin officer Maniki Mahlangu said workers are being treated unfairly.

"They give us a packet of 10 masks and asks us to use them for two weeks. They say you use one mask a day and these masks are not strong, they are for four hours only.

"Weekend what do you do? We have families. We are struggling and NHLS, it's so bad."

Nehawu’s deputy general-secretary December Mavuso said Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has requested another meeting with unions.

However, Mavuso warned that Nehawu wants a private meeting with Mkhize NHLS management.