Government Evaluating All Health Jobs: How This Will Impact Professionals And Workers

The Government, through the Health Service Commission (HSC), has revealed why it is evaluating all jobs in the health sector.

This evaluation aims to assess the qualifications and significance of each position to ensure health professionals and workers get fair and equitable salaries based on their contributions.

Government Evaluating All Health Jobs, Aims to Boost Morale and Recognise Efforts of Health Workers

The Herald reported that the evaluation is expected to boost the morale and motivation of healthcare workers by ensuring their efforts are recognised and fairly rewarded. Lovemore Marufu, the acting general manager of conditions of service and industrial relations at the HSC, explained that job evaluation is a scientific process that determines the relative worth of different jobs within an organization.

“By using this approach, organisations ensure that the job grading structure is aligned to duties and responsibilities. The exercise is fundamental in building a fair and equitable compensation system. Job evaluation is not about salary increase, promotion, upgrading, or cost of living adjustment. It’s about building a grading structure, establishing job hierarchy, determining pay relationships and developing policies and systems that speak to job responsibilities,” said Marufu.

Marufu emphasized that the job evaluation is crucial for developing policies on recruitment, training, and employee retention. The information gathered will also influence health and safety policies.

The HSC is using the Patterson grading system to evaluate jobs in the public health sector. This system categorizes jobs based on the complexity of decision-making, with six decision bands (A-F) used to grade jobs. The jobs are further sub-graded within these bands based on factors such as complexity, accuracy, work pressure, supervision, and required skills.

ALSO READ: In Pictures: Nurses And Doctors Strike In Zimbabwe

Rollout In Place

This evaluation is also seen as a way to improve employee motivation and contribute to better health outcomes across the country. Zimbabwe’s public health sector has faced a high staff turnover in recent years, with many professionals leaving for better opportunities, a situation worsened by the global demand for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HSC spokesperson, Tryfine Dzvukutu, noted that the evaluation would help transform the public health sector, ensuring fair compensation and clear career progression for healthcare professionals.

“Health sector jobs evolve due to several factors, including disease burdens, policy changes, emerging diseases, and regulatory and technology changes,” she said.

Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates