Gustavo Leal F.
T
after being appointed by the president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, the new head of the OPD-IMSS-Bienestar, Alejandro Svarch, promised to bring medical care closer to each community, always listening
to the population and health personnel (The Journal, 14/8/24).
Those who worked at the Ministry of Health-CDMX (Sedesa) based on the OPD-IMSS-Bienestar, will be subject to the general working conditions of that institute, which differ – downwards – from some benefits they enjoyed with Galene Salud (Sedesa), the difference being evident when compared to the bases with a union digit. As head of Government, Claudia Sheinbaum pointed out that their conditions would improve, a statement that from the baseizations shows a notable difference in salary and benefits compared to the highest ones granted by Sedesa. In July 2024, the latter transferred its hospital network to the OPD.
In an interview, the local Secretary of Health, Oliva López, said that information meetings and working groups were held so that workers were informed of the transition process to the OPD, addressing the complaints expressed with this change due to precarious contracts, fees, and the Galene Salud regime (implemented by Sheinbaum). She stressed that the intention
is to protect the eventual Improving benefits and salary
(Millennium Daily 25/8/23).
Is this true? It is hardly true. OPD’s CGT-based contracts carry less benefits than those of Sedesa. For example, for base workers, weekend schedules (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) have 12-hour days. OPD establishes 14.5 hours on Saturdays and 24 hours on Sundays. Sedesa grants three vacation periods, one corresponding to infectious risk. OPD establishes two vacation periods, and an additional one –to replace infectious risk– will be granted for punctuality and approval of authorities, following the Law of civil incentives and rewards with a national competition that reduces the beneficiary universe.
At Sedesa, relatives are covered with 140 days of salary; training and instruction with scholarships for those who request them and are accepted; two annual clothing grants; contribution to the Capitalizable Savings Fund; ranking with categories B and C to strengthen professionalization; annual paid and unpaid leave and reduction of workday from eight to seven hours: if they are mothers, it is reduced by one more hour. In this case, the workday adds up to six hours (for the legal breastfeeding hour).
There is maternity care, a reduction in the work day (one hour) when studying in a public school, and facilities for social service, permits for professional exams, payments for the qualification of the worker or direct family members. Mandatory breaks on public holidays and support with days off when getting married are added. In the OPD, the qualification support is only for the worker, in addition to prohibiting the excessive use of cell phones.
At Sedesa, good grades can be generated for punctuality and discipline at work. Good grades are transformed –depending on their number– into days off or cash prizes: 12 extra days off per year and two half-yearly payments for punctuality. At the OPD, incentives and rewards will be awarded according to the evaluation of the immediate supervisor and the approval of the authority. They are only diplomas, certificates, honorable mentions and occasionally, days of merit or an extra vacation period. At Sedesa there is economic payment and rest on March 8. Also, two half-yearly payments for promoting family coexistence (cultural and sports activities); economic support on Father’s or Mother’s Day; payment for Children’s Day and children under 11 years of age. At the OPD, Mother’s Day is mandatory rest, and August 31, IMSS-Bienestar worker’s day. Sedesa gives mothers four months of paid time for breastfeeding plus three for maternity: seven in total. Mothers who signed a contract with OPD were immediately called to return to work. As of August 2024, the OPD has not yet published the salary update (authorized by the SHCP in March 2024) that includes compensation benefits for services and multi-skilling. But even with this, the loss of up to 36 percent in the integrated global salary compared to Sedesa persists.
So the basing of Sedesa in the OPD-IMSS-Bienestar reserves for workers a clear inequality of rights. For equal work, equal pay. By offering consolidate
the OPD and federalization during 2024 to 2030, President Claudia Sheinbuam and its new head, Alejandro Svarch, can now take action to homologate upwards this marked division between all workers with a permanent base who support this federalization. The offer of listen to them
can materialize immediately.
* UAM-X
