Sicily health authority Seus recalls contract staff, unions warn of service gaps

The regional health agency Seus plans to recall permanent staff employed under contracts with local health companies to return to work on 1 July. The workers, many of whom have served for over fifteen years in hospitals and emergency units in Palermo, Caltanissetta, Enna and Agrigento, would be removed from their current positions, creating a risk of staffing shortages.

The public‑sector unions FP‑CGIL and CISL criticize the move as short‑sighted and lacking strategic planning. They argue that the recall could jeopardise the continuity and quality of health services, including emergency ambulance (118) operations, and call for the suspension of the measure and the opening of a dialogue with Seus and the regional health department. Both unions say the solution lies in new hires and boosting staff numbers rather than shifting existing personnel.

The unions have announced they are ready to mobilise if their demands are not met, emphasizing the need to protect workers' health and maintain reliable medical care for citizens.