Labour CS Bore orders doctors to go back to work, give dialogue a chance

Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore has called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing nationwide doctors’ strike, directing medics, clinical and laboratory officers to return to work and engage in meaningful dialogue with the government.

In a statement to newsrooms on Friday, CS Bore cited the Labour Relations Act, 2007 which outlines procedures for addressing differences through dispute resolution mechanisms, highlighting that the right to strike is not absolute and that her ministry can intervene when circumstances allow it.

She similarly referenced the Employment and Labour Relations Court’s March ruling halting the strike, emphasizing compliance with the directive while pointing out that the Conciliation Committee was also ordered to support parties involved in reaching a resolution.

“The Head of Public Service has taken action in complying with the orders and so must everyone else. Parties should co-operate and act in good faith to finding a settlement to these issues. The resolution of this dispute can only be found through social dialogue,” she said. 

“The Labour Relations Act, 2007 provides that where parties have a difference, they may subject this through a dispute resolution mechanism. The doctors union must therefore suspend the strike and come to the table to negotiate with the Ministry of Health and the 47 county governments. The union needs to direct its members to get back to work, to pave way for meaningful negotiations to take place to find a lasting resolution.”

She similarly stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to support the government's initiatives aimed at reinstating normalcy in the local health sector.

“We must all work together to accelerate government’s efforts to restore normalcy in the operations of the health sector,” said Bore. 

“This matter has received attention at the highest level and we should have faith in each other to resolve the matter once and for all. Once more I appeal to the doctors, clinical officers and laboratory technicians to give dialogue a chance.”