Inexperienced nurses should see their starting salaries match the national average, and the number of years that nurses have spent at work should be factored into their salaries as well, according to a proposal for salary hikes for nurses unveiled by Finance Minister Igor Matovic on Thursday.
As for nurses with a lack of experience, their minimum salary coefficient should be increased from the current 0.89 to 1 times the national average salary. The coefficient of specialised nurses should increase from the current 1.06 to 1.1 times the national average.
The minister wants his proposal to be subjected to a public discussion. "I ask nurses to look at this without any emotion," he said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky explained that salaries can be increased in this way only in inpatient facilities. "The financing of the outpatient sector depends negotiations between health insurance companies and providers themselves," he said, claiming that the Government will try to secure enough funding for the health-care system to be able to increase salaries in this outpatient sector as well.
The Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives has expressed its disappointment over the proposal to increase the salaries of nurses that was presented on Thursday by Finance Minister Igor Matovic and Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky.
"If this is the result of closed-door negotiations and signalled significant increases, we cannot express satisfaction with the presented hikes in the salaries of nurses and midwives," the chamber's statement reads. The chamber noted that it had expected that its proposal concerning adjusting remuneration would be accepted, but it hasn't happened. Furthermore, it pointed to the fact that the Government has not even fulfilled its own manifesto, which speaks of increasing the salaries of nurses to at least 110 percent of the average earnings in the national economy.
The aim of the chamber's proposal, which it has discussed with the health minister, was to stabilise nurses in the system and attract graduates. The proposal involved two key elements, namely a 40-percent salary hike and additional payments depending on years of service.
"Unfortunately, the basic salary will increase only by 11 percent according to Matovic's proposal, which is roughly €126, and we do not consider this to be either compensatory or motivational. The proposed increase in the basic salary is very low and is not competitive compared to salaries of this kind in neighbouring countries," the chamber said. According to the organisation, the proposal would help to help stabilise nurses with experience, but would not attract enough graduates.
The chamber added that it will ask nurses whether they agree or disagree with the presented proposal and how they intend to express their opinion publicly if the latter is the case.
Source: TASR
