DISMISSAL OF CLEANING STAFF AT DIH
Naalakkersuisoq for health explains that parts of the cleaning task at Dronning Indrids Hospital in Nuuk has been subcontracted to a Greenlandic company, and therefore seven people have been made redundant.
Are cleaning staff on Queen Ingrid’s Hospital, DIH, in Nuuk has been fired and subsequently replaced by foreign labour?
Member of Inatsisartut for Inuit Ataqatigiit Paarma Lund Kreutzmann asked that question to Naalakkersuisut after rumors started to circulate about it at the beginning of June.
At that time wrote naalakkersuisoq for health and persons with disabilities, Anna Wangenheim (D), on Facebookthat she had asked the health management to explain what the case was about.
Now the chairman of Naalakkersuisut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, writes in a reply to Paarma Lund Kreutzmann that part of the cleaning task at DIH has been outsourced to a local company in accordance with the tender rules.
“The Health Service states in this connection that no decision has been made to replace local employees with foreign labor. The Greenlandic company that won the tender for the task is itself responsible for the staffing within the agreed terms and rules,” writes Jens-Frederik Nielsen, on behalf of naalakkersuisoq for health and persons with disabilities.
It is true, however, that seven employees have been dismissed from DIH.
Selected on the basis of factual criteria
Paarma Lund Kreutzmann asks what reasons have been given for the dismissals.
According to Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the health service has stated that the affected employees have received individual party consultation letters stating the background for the intended dismissal and have been given the opportunity to submit comments before the final decision.
The redundancies are due to an organizational change in the cleaning area, where part of the tasks have been transferred to a Greenlandic company, writes Jens-Frederik Nielsen
He writes that the need for internal cleaning staff has thus been reduced.
“It is also stated that the selection was made on the basis of factual criteria such as professional and personal competences as well as stability, with seniority as a supplementary consideration.”
Naalakkersusiut follows the development
“Naalakkersuisut must emphasize that there is overall targeted and systematic work to develop, upgrade and involve the local workforce, among other things through legislation, strategies and frameworks for business development,” writes the chairman of Naalakkersuisut.
He points out that organizing the operation and deciding on staffing lies with the health service and not with the politicians.
“However, Naalakkersuisut continuously follows developments and, if necessary, will assess whether adjustments are needed to continue to support the overall political objectives of local employment.”
To conclude, Paarma Lund Kreutzmann asks how to ensure proper and transparent personnel conditions for local employees in the health field.
This happens, among other things, through active competence development, recruitment and retention of local labour, answers Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
“Naalakkersuisut will of course be aware of whether there is a concrete need to adapt the legislation to ensure orderly, transparent and fair conditions for the employees, including the local employees,” concludes the chairman.
