In-patients at Samoa’s Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital went without breakfast Thursday morning after kitchen staff stayed away in protest for unpaid wages.
Samoa Observer reported hundreds of admitted patients went without breakfast.
Acting Director General of Health, Tagaloa Dr Robert Thomsen, confirmed that two catering companies had been called in to provide meals for patients.
By 6 pm Thursday a Ministry of Health van was seen delivering pre-packed meals to the hospital, assisted by staff members who helped unload the food.
“We have assured the patients that the service will still go ahead,” Tagaloa said.
Tagaloa explained that the disruption occurred due to a “miscommunication about their overtime payments.”
“The issue has been resolved, and they will return to work tomorrow (Friday),” he said.
He added the catering arrangement was only for Thursday.
He also confirmed that no hospital catering staff had been dismissed following the incident.
“They still have their jobs. Everyone still has their own jobs,” Tagaloa said.
The newspaper said it understood that the employees, who usually start work in the early hours of the morning to prepare meals, went instead to see the Minister of Health to raise concerns about their wages and lack of overtime pay.
Photo: Samoa Observer
