World Bulletin/News Desk

Hospital cleaners in the Gaza Strip went on a comprehensive strike on Monday in protest against the failure of the Palestinian Health Ministry to pay them their salaries for the past six months.

"Our workers went on strike on Monday in all of the strip's hospitals and will continue their strike for three days," a union representing hospital cleaners in the Gaza Strip said in statement.

"The Health Ministry continues to disregard the demands of the hospital cleaners for their overdue salaries," the statement said.

According to the statement, hospital cleaners had not received their salaries for six months now.

The union also urged all hospitals to "take the necessary precautions to preserve patients' lives."

In its statement, the union accused the Palestinian national unity government of neglecting the cleaners and their "difficult" living and economic conditions.

The workers were hired by private companies that provides services for the Health Ministry in exchange for a monthly fee. These companies, however, say they have not been paid since the formation of the Palestinian unity government in June.

Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation deal in April, which led to the formation of a national unity government in June.

The new government has yet to assume full responsibility for the Gaza Strip, which has hampered disbursement of public-sector salaries in the coastal enclave.