NAJ members ordered to resume duties

The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) has ordered nurses to return to work immediately.

Several major health facilities have reported levels of absenteeism as high as 73%, over the past three days.

Labour Minister Pearnel Charles told RJR News on Friday afternoon that the nurses have agreed to return to work ahead of a meeting with labour ministry officials on Saturday to resolve longstanding grouses over back pay.

Since Tuesday, major health facilities transitioned into emergency mode, discharging non-critical patients, canceling elective surgeries and calling on senior nurses to man critical sections of hospital operations.