More than 30 thousand contractist for contract expect to be transferred to the permanent line (011), as established in article 140 of the General Budget Law of Revenue and Expenditures of the State for fiscal year 2025, Decree 36-2024.
However, the capacity of the Ministry of Health It only reaches to integrate the payroll at 13%, that is, 4,000 workers during this year.
In the administrative area there are 11 thousand 502 workers hired in the lines 029 and in subgroup 18, while in the care area there are 18 thousand 900 in line 182. According to the regulations, all must be transferred to permanent places.
So far, none of these workers have been incorporated into line 011. This March 10, the authorities of the Ministry of Health were cited by deputies of the Block Will, Opportunity and Solidarity (you) to follow up on the issue.
At the meeting, the officials indicated that they do not have a specific fact of the necessary budget for the incorporation of all workers to permanent places.
According to Juan Carlos Oxom, administrative and financial vice minister, in 2024 no transfer was made and this year they could integrate 4,000 workers into the payroll, since the resources destined to cover contracts 029 and subgroup 18 would be used to finance these permanent places. Oxom added that the final calculations are still pending to estimate the necessary funds to make the other movements.
“Maybe we can do more, but I don’t want to commit; these are the processes that are already in progress. For the rest, we must see what places we have available, how we finance them and which ones we have to create. We are just in that study,” said Oxom, who expects the first changes to be made in April.
An alternative raised by deputy José Chic to expedite transfers is to carry out a suppression-creation process, that is, suppress already created positions and generate new places. However, Juan Carrera, deputy director of the National Civil Service Office (ONSEC), mentioned that studies should be carried out to determine what positions are needed within the Ministry.
The observation was made that lines other than 011, 021 or 022 cannot be suppressed and that, to create positions in line 011, first it must be verified whether vacancies in that category cover or not the needs of the portfolio. When generating them, a call must be made to occupy them and people must meet the established requirements.
Article 140 of Decree 36-2024 also establishes that the Ministry of Health must make budgetary readcations to finance a salary increase and an economic incentive for all workers in the portfolio.
Deputy Orlando Blanco said that in this issue there are no results, when the third month of the year is elapsed.
In this regard, Oxom mentioned that it is not clear if the law refers to delivering a bonus or a salary increase to the health, and that there is a “legal doubt” that quarrels with the provisions of the Law of Public Administration wages and the Annual Salary Plan. Therefore, they must make the corresponding evaluations to comply with the regulations.
Healthy ask for acting
Carlos Noé Santos Urías, general secretary of the San Juan de Dios National Union, said that They are aware that all contract workers cannot be transferred simultaneously to permanent line. Therefore, they ask the Ministry of Health to establish a schedule so that the incorporation is in groups and that it begins with those of greater seniority.
“This government could make an estimate of how many workers can transfer and then we demand the next government to incorporate into the most. We know that 100% cannot be transferred, but you can project 80%,” Santos Urías said.
He pointed out that one of the problems within the Ministry of Health is that the contracts for contract that have been vacant after the transfer of workers to line 011 have been occupied with new hiring. This has increased the amount of personnel in subgroup 18 and has definanced the form.
He added that the current authorities of the Ministry do not have the will to comply with what is established in article 140 and that last year no transfer was made. In addition, the calls were stagnant.
On the other hand, he indicated that, as an organization, in 2024 they gave to the portfolio a projection of the necessary resources for the transfer and salary increase, a proposal they are willing to discuss.
He mentioned that they gave the authorities to present a solution to the issue, a term that concludes in the week of March 24 to 28. Otherwise, They will take measures, ranging from a total strike in 28 points of the country to a progressive strike.
Payment to Epesists
Article 140 also establishes the monthly payment of the study scholarship to students who carry out their supervised professional practice (EPS) of the Medicine career and, as of this year, the amount mustShape the minimum wage of non -agricultural activities, that is, Q3,528.29.
According to Sandra Carballo, vice minister of hospitals, there are 370 epesists who are identified for this year, which represents A disbursement of Q19.5 million. However, for them to receive monthly payment, they must sign a contract, which is still in the process of approval.
Carballo added that not all universities have sent the students’ list, which has generated delay in the elaboration of the documentation, which must be evaluated by the legal department.
There are about 50 epesists of the Northwest University Center of the University of San Carlos de Guatemala that must be included in the list of beneficiaries of the Study Scholarship, which would increase the amount to be disbursed.
Last year there was a delay of four months in the payment of the Scholarship of Studies to the practitioners, which caused the students to declare in permanent assembly in the regional hospitals of Cuilapa, Santa Rosa, and Pedro de Bethancourt, in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez.