Zambia nurses end strike over pay

Nurses want a pay rise and increased housing allowance

Nurses in Zambia have returned to work after a month-long strike over pay and benefits, which closed many hospital wards and caused a public outcry.

The government agreed to look into their grievances after Church leaders intervened in the dispute and held talks with officials and unions.

On Monday ministers threatened to sack any nurses refusing to return to work.

Nurse leaders say the government has one month to come up with a better pay deal, or they will go on strike again.

Health officials from around the country told Zambia's state-owned Daily Mail newspaper that all nurses were now back at work.

Fabian Kabulu, health director for the north of the country, congratulated the nurses on making a deal with the government.

"I am happy that the health workers considered the plight of members of the community," he told the paper.

Central to the dispute are wages, as well as allowances for housing and night working.

Nurses, with the exception of senior managers, are demanding a 25% wage increase.

The government has offered a 15% rise to all civil servants - and threatened to sack all of the nurses and bring in replacements from Zimbabwe if they did not go back to work.

The nurses also want an increased housing allowance - it currently stands at $38 a month.

Correspondents say that figure is well below the average cost of housing in most parts of the country.