Slovenia boosts health workers’ wages as COVID-19 cases soar

LJUBLJANA, Nov. 10– The Slovenian government and trade unions on Wednesday inked an agreement that will raise the wages of nurses and other health workers as the COVID-19 epidemic rages in the country. On Tuesday, Slovenia recorded 4,481 new COVID-19 cases, up from 3,344 cases the day before, the National Institute of Public Health reported.

LJUBLJANA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) — The Slovenian government and trade unions on Wednesday inked an agreement that will raise the wages of nurses and other health workers as the COVID-19 epidemic rages in the country.

“There is a lack of health workers and they are overloaded,” Health Minister Janez Poklukar said in a statement. “They should get a fair payment for their work.”

On Tuesday, Slovenia recorded 4,481 new COVID-19 cases, up from 3,344 cases the day before, the National Institute of Public Health reported. The highest daily number was recorded on Nov. 3, with 4,511 new cases.

According to the new agreement, about 35,000 health workers will receive higher wages, with the biggest increase going to hospital nurses.

The pay rises, unofficially ranging from 4 percent to 25 percent, will become effective after collective bargaining agreements are signed, according to the Slovenian Press Agency.

“(We agreed) the necessary wage increase for professions which have been indispensable so far, and are even more indispensable now that we are facing the epidemic,” Labor Minister Janez Cigler Kralj said in the statement.

On Tuesday, a total of 889 COVID-19 patients were being treated in hospitals, 15 more than the day before. In recent weeks, most hospitals have had to call off non-urgent programs in order to provide care for COVID-19 patients. Enditem