Paraguay’s health workers staged a protest in front of the Ministry of Public Health this Tuesday, demanding a 50% salary increase to address longstanding wage disparities.
The Paraguayan National Federation of Health Workers organized a demonstration at the Ministry of Public Health to demand a 50% salary increase for approximately 45,000 healthcare and administrative personnel who have been excluded from recent wage improvements in other sectors.
During the protest, union representatives met with the Minister of Health, Isaías Fretes, to present the historical demands of public sector workers. These demands focus on closing the wage gap and implementing an effective healthcare career path.
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Sandra López, spokesperson for the union, outlined the key objectives of the protest. “We presented two main points to the minister. Firstly, the salary recomposition for the entire healthcare team, including both healthcare and administrative staff. Secondly, the implementation of the healthcare career path,” she emphasized.
López stressed that the healthcare career path is essential for eliminating labor inequities and precarious conditions affecting healthcare and administrative staff in the public system.
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In response to the demand for salary recomposition, the ministerial authorities cited budget constraints, prioritizing fiscal austerity over the guarantee of social rights for workers*. “Regarding the salary recomposition, he told us there is no money left, that the budget has been fully allocated, leaving only a small portion, making it difficult to meet our demands,”* López detailed the government’s stance.
Despite the initial rejection due to limited public funds, the Federation confirmed that negotiations will continue on October 3, with ongoing actions to defend the stability and comprehensive valuation of healthcare work.
The protest by public healthcare workers highlights the crisis in resource allocation within state policies. Measures to contain what the government considers social spending directly impact the quality of healthcare services received by the people and undermine the working conditions of those sustaining the healthcare system.
The government’s refusal to address the salary debt with 45,000 professionals reflects a management model that views healthcare as a budgetary cost rather than a fundamental human right. This approach deepens wage disparities and leaves workers vulnerable to inflation.
Preliminary Accord
In the days leading up to the protest, the Paraguayan government and the National Syndicate of Physicians reached a preliminary agreement.
The agreement includes provisions for better healthcare benefits, improved working conditions, and increased job security for contracted workers. It addresses the need for fair wages and better protections for permanent employees.
It also expects a salary increase of 2 million guaraníes (336,32 dollars) for healthcare professionals in the public system, aiming to pause the national strike planned for September 21 and 22, pending the formal decision of the union’s base.
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