By Isaac Salima:
Some health workers in the country can afford a smile as the government has finally adjusted their allowances, which they have been demanding for some time now.
However, there are what others are calling huge gaps in the amounts and have vowed that they will continue protesting for better perks.
The adjustments are according to a leaked document that we have seen. Officials in government have confirmed its authenticity.
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The circular shows that those in grades C-D will be getting K526,500 top-up allowances per month while those in grade E-F will be receiving K351,000 per month.
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The circular also shows that those in grade M will be getting K50,000 per month.
In professional allowances, health workers in grades D-I will be receiving K11,500 while in J-K and L, they will be pocketing K7,200 and K4,000, respectively.
The circular has been signed by Secretary for Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD) Blessings Chilabade.
Treasury spokesperson Williams Banda referred us to his counterpart in the HRDM Department Kennie Mhango.
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Mhango said we should speak to the Ministry of Health whose mouthpiece Adrian Chikumbe said the ministry was aware of the circular.
“We are thankful that government has finally reviewed the allowance rates upwards at a time when we are already in a new fiscal year. We are happy that these will now be reviewed from time to time,” Chikumbe said.
But Physician Assistants Union of Malawi president David Chomba, whose body is part of those representing the workers, said they were yet to receive the communication by press time.
“We are also seeing it on social media. If it is true, then we will not accept it. If you see those figures, they favour those who are already getting huge amounts of money.
“That is not what we proposed. We will not accept that adjustment and we will continue with our protests. We also proposed a uniform professional allowance of K40,000, not what they have done,” Chomba said.
Few weeks ago, the health workers went on strike, paralysing health service delivery in public hospitals.
The government, through Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, obtained a court injunction restraining the workers from proceeding with the industrial strike.
They consequently returned to work.
