Issued on:
France's new prime minister, Jean Castex, said on Tuesday his government would commit an envelope of €7.5 billion to raise the wages of staff at hospitals badly strained by the coronavirus pandemic.
Advertising
Read more
"I have insisted for jobs to be at the heart of the discussions," Castex said on Twitter of negotiations between unions, hospital officials and the government, which started before a government reshuffle on Monday.
Officials at the health ministry were not immediately available for comment.
Although France enjoys a reputation for having one of the world's best healthcare systems, hospital staff have been asking for more money, jobs and equipment in the last decade to better address the needs of an ageing population and a shortage of city doctors.
The coronavirus pandemic has strained the system even more with hospitals in the worst-hit areas facing desperate shortages of beds and protective gear.
>> Victory at what cost? How Covid-19 exposed cracks in French healthcare
Last week, the government of outgoing prime minister Edouard Philippe wrapped up weeks of talks with health workers on hospital overhauls in response to the crisis.
Employees have long complained about insufficient staff and low pay that prompts doctors and nurses to take jobs at private clinics instead. That issue led to a series of strikes over the past year.
Health workers are now determined to turn the broad public sympathy enRead More – Source
[contf] [contfnew] 
france24
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
