Paraguay nurses mull strike over salary demands

Nurses at Paraguay's Institute of Social Security (IPS) are escalating their fight for fair pay, protesting outside the institution's central office in Asunción to demand salary equalization for thousands of contracted colleagues. They claim these workers are earning less than the legal minimum wage.

Despite meeting with IPS President Isaías Fretes, the nurses' representatives received an unfavorable response. Marina Ayala, a union representative, told ABC Color that Fretes cited a lack of funds, explaining that the necessary amounts for salary adjustments for 4,300 contracted nurses were not included in the institution's initial budget request to the Ministry of Economy and Finance for 2027. An addendum requesting an additional 40 billion guaraníes has been submitted, but the union remains skeptical.

Ayala expressed doubt that the Ministry of Economy and Finance will approve the budget amendment, pointing to a history of rejected budget addendums for the IPS. While negotiations are ongoing with IPS and government officials, the nurses' union has warned that a work stoppage or even a general strike is a distinct possibility if their demands are not met. This salary dispute comes as the IPS, under Fretes's new administration, continues to grapple with a severe financial crisis impacting its healthcare services.