The decision by the Ministry of Health to dismiss striking health workers has received a backlash from a Labour Consultant, Mr Austin Gamey.

Speaking in an interview with Joy News, Mr Gamey said the Ministry has no power to fire the workers under the Labour Act at a time negotiations are ongoing to review their request.

He said the Ministry’s decision worsens the already strained relationship between the health workers and the Ministry.

Mr Gamey said: “What the Ministry should do is to go back to the Labour Commission and report the conduct of the health workers to them. Then let the Labour Commission take the appropriate action so that it would not be chaotic.”

Section 161 of the Labour Act states that, “A party to an industrial action shall not resort to a strike or lock-out during the period when negotiations and other things are going on.”

He agreed that both parties have violated the labour law. He said because the two parties do not have a collective agreement on resolving issues they come under the general rule of Section 161.

“I concede that whatever action the people (workers) have taken is inappropriate and I whole-heartedly support that if they are not to be paid for services they did not render may be they should not be paid for it. But employing the maximum penalty at this point in time will be too capricious,” he said.

Mr Gamey urged the Labour Commission to call both parties to order.