SCORES of Social Services employees demonstrated across the country in a show of frustration yesterday, citing unfair practices, poor working conditions and unresolved workplace grievances.

The demonstrations, which began around midday, prompted the closure of offices in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Exuma and other Family Islands.

All social workers protested on their lunch break yesterday, The Tribune was told, and the group plans to write to Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis with their demands to which they have given him said he has seven days to respond.

In widely circulated videos, protestors on the various islands could be seen holding placards which read “overworked and underpaid” while chanting “promotion overdue” and “unfair treatment”.

A similar exercise was also seen in New Providence, featuring dozens of workers demonstrating outside the department’s headquarters on Baillou Hill Road.

According to social workers, their frustrations stem from years of neglect and disrespect.

They are upset over the government’s failure to regularise workers in the unemployment work assistance programme, some of whom have remained unconfirmed for over 30 years.

Workers have also hit out at the lack of promotions in the agency, which they claim are long overdue. They furthered that officials failed to establish a medical insurance or risk allowance plan for employees among other things.

“I work as a case aide at SRC (Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre) where there is COVID all around, everywhere you turn – left, right and centre,” social worker, Natasha Todd told reporters during yesterday’s protest.

“We are at risk. I’ve been on the work programme for 16 years. I’m a single mother. Have two children, working and only getting $220 or $210 a week.”

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