State Media|The Labour Court is this afternoon expected to make a determination on the legality of the 36-day mass job action by medical doctors who have repeatedly snubbed the employer’s plea to return to work.

The doctors have also rejected offers tabled by the Government.

This was said by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo last night.

Government last Friday urged the striking doctors to return to work with effect from yesterday or face disciplinary action.

Dr Moyo yesterday said most doctors remained defiant, leaving Government with no option, but to institute legal proceedings.

“Further to the statement issued by Ministry of Health and Child Care on Saturday, October 5, 2019, regarding the ongoing withdrawal of labour by some doctors, Government today (yesterday) the 7th of October 2019 has made an assessment of the situation at public health institutions and noted that some doctors did not take heed of the appeal and still chose to stay away from their work stations.

“Government is therefore allowing due legal process to continue with the Labor Court scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 at 14:30 hours wherein the Labor Court will determine the legality of the mass job action,” said Dr Moyo.

He commended the few doctors and some health workers who continued providing services during the ongoing job action.

“The Government continues to be grateful to those doctors and other health care workers who have remained on their posts of duty delivering care, saving lives and alleviating suffering.

“Patients’ lives are paramount,” said Dr Moyo.

In a statement last Friday following the Health Services Bipartite Negotiating Panel from which doctors rejected Government’s offer of 60 percent, all doctors were called to report for work beginning yesterday at 8am.

It was argued that those who fail to do so would be breaching their contracts of work and could face disciplinary action.