Civil servants have rejected a salary and allowances increase offer that government presented to them, saying it is way below their demands.
Representatives from the two parties met on Friday with the hope of reaching a consensus on the civil servants demand of a 44 percent salary increase and 200 percent hike of special and transport allowances.
However, the parties did not agree on an amount or percentage because civil servants said the government offer is way below their expectations.
In an interview yesterday, Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) secretary general Titha Gomani confirmed that CSTU asked the Government Negotiating Team to bring a better offer.
However, she declined to disclose how much government was offering.
Said Gomani: “The amount was so little that our team could not accept it. Looking at the rising cost of living, there is need for a good offer. So, we asked them to go back.”
She said the parties are expected to meet again before February 28 this week to continue with discussions, adding the CSTU hopes government will bring an improved offer.
In a separate interview, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) president Charles Kumchenga also said civil servants expect government to make a better offer in the discussions that will take place this week. However, he could not say how much would be acceptable.
“It is possible that, with the rise in cost of living, government might decide to offer more than what we are demanding or what I can say is a better offer,” he said.
Kumchenga, who is also Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) secretary general added that the civil servants want their demands to be met in the 2025/2026 National Budget.
Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda is expected to present the 2025/2026 budget statement in Parliament this Friday.
When called to comment on the matter, Government Negotiating Team chairperson Charles Kalemba declined to comment, saying the matter is still under discussion and he could not provide the figure that Capital Hill proposed to civil servants.
“We are still discussing, so I cannot comment,” he said.
In the first week of February this year, civil servants gave government a 14-day ultimatum to address their demands for salary and allowance hike, failing which they will go on a nationwide strike on February 25.
