Derry MLA Maeve McLaughlin has called for the introduction of a new pay system for the North’s health workers to be suspended after reports from numerous members of staff that they were being under-paid – some by as much as £500 a month.
The new system – due to be rolled out across the North from tomorrow – is already being used by the South Eastern Trust where staff claim it is “not fit for purpose.”
Ms McLaughlin, the chairperson of the Health Committee at Stormont, said many staff were also not receiving a pay slip.
The Sinn Fein representative added: “This is totally unacceptable as it is putting the already overstretched staff in financial stress by incurring financial penalties from banks and building societies for missing direct debits.”
“I am calling on Health Minister Edwin Poots to suspend the implementation of this new system until such time it is demonstrated that it can preform the task that it is designed to do – pay the proper wages on time.”
Ms McLaughlin concluded: “I am also calling on the minister to make immediate payments to all staff who have been underpaid and ensure that any financial penalties incurred by staff due this problem are reimbursed by the department.”
