CSTU faults expenditure control measures
The Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) has faulted government’s recently rolled out expenditure measures, especially on recruitment and promotion freeze, saying they threaten to affect the performance of civil servants and service delivery.
CSTU secretary general Madalitso Njolomole observed that some of the measures need to be reviewed as they are undesirable and demotivating.
He was reacting to a circular dated March 23 2018 from the Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara to all departments, urging controlling officers to enhance implementation of expenditure control measures as outlined in the 2017/18 Mid-Year Budget Review.
Under expenditure control measures number 7 and 8 out of the 10 outlined, government has frozen recruitment of staff except for special services and that it has also frozen promotions except in special circumstances.
On Thursday, Njolomole said the control measures are welcome, but government needs to review some which are directly affecting individual performances.
“We have faulted government in denying its workers promotions, that is retrogressive. It is part of our conditions of service. Why should we be denied that? It will demotivate the service. Promotions are part of motivation, so if you remove it what is the reason for working?” he said.
Njolomole said the issue of recruitment also needs to be reviewed as there are many civil servants retiring, some resigning; hence, creating a gap which needs to be filled.
He said CSTU will seek to meet the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) next week to present their grievances and it is after that meeting that a way forward will be decided.
In her reaction, Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) deputy director for education Jessie Ching’oma said the move is ill-timed and would lead to chaos in the civil service.
She said it appears government made the decision without involving civil servants.
Ching’oma said by freezing promotions, government has violated the whole essence of joining the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which looks at the welfare of workers including civil servants.
Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) executive director Benedicto Kondowe said the measures of freezing recruitment and promotion will have a huge impact of quality of education.
He said the freezing means the teacher to pupil ratio will further increase and freezing of the promotion is a gross violation of everyone including teachers.
Said Kondowe: “Some of the teachers went for upgrading to be promoted, it was the greatest motivating factor they were working for, so this freeze is not good, they haven’t even indicated when it will come to an end.
“What will happen to those ODL [open and distance learning] teachers who are not recruited now? What will happen to those teachers who upgraded? Government should have considered all this.”
The expenditure control measures, among others, have restricted business class travel to heads of the three arms of government—the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature—while the rest will have to seek approval to travel business class.
