By Isaac Salima
Government employees under the banner Young Civil Servants, who are challenging their employer over the introduction of the contributory pension scheme, have bemoaned what they call “delays to get justice” on the matter.
In December last year, Samson Chaoloka and about 12,000 other junior civil servants dragged the government to court, where they are seeking abolition of the new pension scheme.
Under the scheme, five percent is taken from their salaries, with the government contributing 10 percent.
But Young Civil Servants do not want anything to do with it, saying they want to go back to the old arrangement, where they were not contributing anything.
Yesterday, hearing of the matter failed at the Industrial Relations Court in Blantyre, making it the ninth time this has happened.
Court users learned Thursday that Tamandani Nyimba, who is presiding over the case, was reportedly ill.
The development did not please Chaoloka and colleagues.
“From December [last year], we have not been heard as they keep on adjourning the case. The bad thing is that they do not communicate to us and we end up spending money on transport because most of us come from outside Blantyre,” Chaoloka said.
He further said they would like to see the matter concluded in the soonest time possible so that justice in the matter is served.
Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda, who was present at the court Thursday, is representing the government while the appellants are being represented by Chancy Gondwe.
Around 2017, the government introduced the scheme, whereby civil servants below the age of 35 were put on mandatory pension contribution scheme.
Those above 35 are still part of the old system, meaning that they are not contributing anything.
The junior officers claim that there were no proper consultations before their employer came up with the scheme.
