After major demonstrations across France, non-medical health care workers will receive a monthly raise of nearly 300 dollars. A medical secretary will receive 183 Euros approximately $284 Canadian dollars.

The French government signed an historic agreement on Monday in Paris, which will give non-medical health care workers a pay raise of just under $300 per month.

Healthcare workers who received nightly applause by the French public from balconies and windows throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, under the new agreement will see an infusion of more than 8 billion euros (over 12 billion CDN) into the healthcare system.

” This effort is first of all a recognition towards those who, applauded every evening by our fellow citizens, have been on the front line in the fight against this unprecedented epidemic. Everyone knows their sense of duty and their selflessness,” said French Prime Minister, Jean Castex on Monday.

“No one can doubt that this is a historic moment for our healthcare system. It’s a way of catching up for the years of delay where every one of us, including maybe even myself, has their part of the responsibility,” he said.

The Republic President, Emmanuel Macron added, “I was committed to it, we have just done it. The careers and salaries of our caregivers who gave so much during the crisis are revalued.”

The Mobilization

The signing of the agreement between the government and workers’ union representatives came about after the country’s healthcare employees took to the streets beginning this past April demanding increased wages and improved working conditions including resources.

The demonstrations which began in April, triggered a nationwide debate about the nation’s healthcare workers, leading to the creation of, Segur de la Sante, a program put forth by the government at the end of May to tackle disparities in the health sector.

Throughout the month of June members of unions and hospital collectives continued the protests across major cities, some of which ended in violence when workers torched cars and furniture in Paris.

According to a CNN report, on June 20, activists from Attac and Inter-Urgences, an association of paramedical staff, spraying red paint on France’s Health Ministry building in Paris.

On June 30, as talks on the Segur de la Sante were set to end that Friday, marchers again took to the streets in rallies across France’s major cities.

The Historic Agreement

The monthly pay increase for non-medical healthcare workers will average just under 300 dollars. For example, a medical secretary will receive 183 Euros approximately $284 Canadian dollars.

The increase will be implemented in two phases – approximately fifty per cent of the increase starting on September 2020 and the remaining half as of March 2021.

On top of the recent pay rate increases, this past spring French healthcare workers working directly in coronavirus-impacted areas received a bonus of up to $2,218 with all other hospital staff receiving a $739 bonus.

“Caregivers fought to save lives without ever getting discouraged, never giving up. Beyond recognition, they were awaiting action:: this is the subject of the Agreements signed today, with a historic increase in wages, “said Minister of Health Olivier Véran.