The UHM has reported progress in high-level talks with the government on various issues involving health sector workers.

The union said the progress was made in a four hour meeting headed by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar, union President Gejtu Tanti and General Secretary Gejtu Vella.

The union said it was agreed that:

The government will by the end of this month issue a call for the recruitment of four dental surgeons and four dental registrars.

Nursing Aides, Health Assistants, Care Workers and Asst. Care Workers in Category "A" will benefit from a €1,500 allowance retroactive to June 6, 2008. Workers in this category will have a 43-hour week.

By the end of this month the government will confirm that Paramedic Aides will be paid as previously agreed for their work between December 2007 and July 2008.

The government will honour an agreement signed in February 2008 on meals or an allowance to medical staff at Mater Dei Hospital.

On hospital parking facilities for staff below scale 13, the government will, within a month, report on action it is taking to solve the issue.

On porters at the ambulance garage, the union will propose a new roster spread over a 42-hour week.