Reflections of the Public Flexible Working Regulation on the Health Sector
While the flexible working regulation is being debated, the health workers' union states that conditions increase precarity due to staff shortages and the lack of nurseries.
The flexible working regulation announced by Minister of Economy Mehmet Şimşek for public employees has reopened the debate on shift and off-hours conditions in the health sector. Officials from the health workers' union state that this system harbors risks due to current staff shortages and increased workload.
Flexible Working Plan and Hours
The new regulation announced by Minister of Economy Mehmet Şimşek aims to divide working hours into core and flexible times. It is envisaged that the core time period to be present at the institution will be a maximum of five hours.
Current Situation in the Health Sector
Eylem Kaya Eroğlu, a member of the Central Executive Board of the Health and Social Service Workers' Union, stated that an unacknowledged form of flexible working has already been implemented in the health field for a long time. It was emphasized that this situation could mean being trapped in hospitals and a decrease in wages.
Number of Nurses and Workload
While there is an average of 9.2 nurses per thousand people in OECD countries, it is stated that this number is 2.9 in Turkey. The spread of flexible working due to staff shortages can lead to nurses being unable to leave the hospital.
Lack of Nurseries and Social Rights
It is stated that the number of active public nurseries in Turkey is insufficient, and public nurseries are being closed or privatized. Young health workers experience difficulties due to the lack of nurseries and insufficient social rights.
Precarity and Allegations of Exile
While it is pointed out that flexible employment forms increase precarity, it is reported that the part-time working practices of pregnant or postpartum female health workers result in exile-like reassignments from their duty stations.