The call by Sanitation Services Authority (SSA) workers for medical insurance coverage has finally been answered.
On Wednesday, officials of the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification announced that a group medical insurance plan with the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Ltd. (ICBL) was finalized.
Making the announcement during the Estimates debate, Chairman of the SSA Ramon Alleyne gave the assurance that the agency was placing a renewed focus on the health and well-being of its workers.
Without going into detail, Alleyne said: “That health insurance . . . will be signed off on today. An agreement has been made. This is a commitment made to the workers by the honourable Prime Minister, which the minister made sure was at the forefront of being effected and brought to land as soon as possible.”
This comes three months after SSA workers, backed by their union, threatened protest action if a number of outstanding issues were not addressed.
The main issues related to pay increases, a long-promised medical insurance scheme that was approved by management in principle but had still not been implemented, a lack of upward movement, and occupational health and safety.
Officials did not address the matter of pay and promotions on Wednesday, but Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde hinted that in order to help address concerns in the area of occupational health and safety the garbage trucks would be retrofitted with robotic arms.
Thanking the SSA workers for their dedication over the past year, Forde said “They are on the frontline to collect garbage when persons are at their homes being quarantined from COVID. I have to pay homage to them today for a job well done.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Small business Kerrie Symmonds welcomed the introduction of a health plan for the SSA workers, describing it as “historical and groundbreaking”.
(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)
