FEDUSA Calls for Moratorium on Proposed GEMS Fee Increases for the 2021/2022 Financial Year

06 January 2021

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has  learnt with utmost disappointment of the intent by the Government Employees Medical Aid Scheme (GEMS) to increase the annual membership contribution fees for the 2021/2022 financial year. The union federation disagrees and calls on GEMS to implement a moratorium on the proposal to bring relief to over – extended public servants.

“FEDUSA, on behalf of its public sector affiliates views any attempt to implement medical aid increases as extremely insensitive and a total disregard to the well – being and livelihoods of our members and their families. Our members have already been dishonoured and prejudiced financially due to government’s non-compliance and failure to implement salary increases to public servants”, said FEDUSA General Secretary Riefdah Ajam.

“Simply put, it is disgraceful that Government, as the very employer and custodian of GEMS, has the audacity to suggest increases to the scheme, when itself deems it necessary to blatantly refuse and renege on a legally – binding agreement. Insulting as it is, FEDUSA must remind Government and GEMS in their moment of selective amnesia, of their encouragement to members, bordering on coercion, to redirect their medical aid membership towards GEMS. Your conscious is surely not your guide in this instance, as you pursue an agenda of further entrapping the working class who already have their backs against the wall”.

Ajam said many public servants in particular frontline workers in the healthcare sector have made sacrifices during this COVID-19 pandemic/ lockdown period to protect the public and ensuring the safety of our nation. She added that the federation was determined to resist any attempts by GEMS that can further impact negatively on the well-being of our members.

FEDUSA believes that GEMS is in a financially sound position to absorb a fee increase holiday and our members should therefore not be overburdened with more fee increases and implores it to do the right thing and follow other medical aid providers who have shown the initiative to freeze increases in medical aid contributions in the interest of public servants and their dependents, concluded Ajam.

Ends

(355 Words)

For interviews please contact:

Dr. Lufuno Mulaudzi

FEDUSA Vice President : Public Sector

076 290 5927

 

Ms Riefdah Ajam

FEDUSA General Secretary

079 696 2625

 

Issued by:

Frank Nxumalo

FEDUSA Media and Research Officer

072 637 8096