IDT rules in favour of junior doctors in overtime dispute with Government

The Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) has ruled in favour of the Jamaica Medical Doctors’ Association (JMDA) in its long-running overtime dispute with the Government, ordering that junior doctors be paid under a separate emergency-duty formula, retroactive to April 1, 2023.

In its award released on Monday, the IDT rejected the Government’s proposal to place doctors under the standard public-sector overtime policy, saying that system is incompatible with round-the-clock healthcare and patient safety.

Under the ruling, rostered doctors will receive time-and-a-half on weekdays, one-and-three-quarter times their hourly rate on their first day off and double time on their second day off. Higher rates will apply to doctors covering multiple hospitals and certain premium duties.