At least 200 Immigration Department junior staff members have written their bosses over promotions, border patrol allowances, road block and risk allowances and ‘mistreatment’ of officers, among other concerns, and have threatened to down tools by Thursday next week.
In a letter dated May 9 2020, the officers from the Central Region have alleged that a lot of junior officers have not been promoted ever since they joined the department with some of them working for close to eight years on the same grade.
The letter has been addressed to Central Region Immigration Officer and indicates that promotion motivates workers “to go a step further”.
“Sir, you may wish to be reminded that there are no constables in Malawi Prison and Police Service,” the letter reads in part.
Other demands by the junior officers are risk allowances in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which they argue is a public health issue that does not spare border posts and roadblocks.
On the issue of mistreatment, the junior officers want the full backing of their management in difficult situations just like their counterparts in other security agencies.
Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services spokesperson, Joseph Chauwa, said he is aware of the matter and that the department is working on the concerns raised.
“Currently, management is engaging officers in all formations to update them on the issues raised,” Chauwa said.
The junior officers in question work in immigration formations including Kamuzu International Airport and border posts like Mchinji, Dedza, Biriwiri and Chinsinga.
There are over 700 junior officers in the Immigration and Citizenship Services Department.
Recently, Malawi Prison Service junior officers were promoted after they also staged a strike.
