Govt, healthcare staff in mediation
Government and healthcare workers have opted to talk over their conciliation agreement outside the courts with a possibility that the Ministry of Health would implement it in the 2025/26 financial year.
Lawyer representing Ministry of Health Francis MacJessie and Physician Assistants Union of Malawi (Paum) president Solomon Chomba confirmed in separate interviews yesterday that they have resolved to take the matter outside the Industrial Relations Court (IRC).
Chomba said during the hearing on July 24 2024 at the IRC Lilongwe Registry, the government side pledged to develop an addendum that would see contents of the agreement being implemented in the next financial year.
He said they were also assured that the recently announced adjustment of top-up and professional allowances would be effected this month.
“We will start getting the new top-up and professional allowances this month. So, we will see if it will be reflected in our July salaries,” he said.
On the other hand, MacJessie said during the pre-hearing conference, it was agreed that both applications by both parties over an injunction government obtained to stop a sit-in by the health staff should be discontinued.
He said both parties agreed that government must work on an addendum which would be subject to confirmation by authorities in the Ministry.
“We proposed to adjourn and give room for dialogue. Both parties suggested having an addendum subject to approval by the ministry.
“Allowances cannot be implemented without due process. The government has been made aware of this proposal and the good thing is that representatives of the ministry were available during the hearing,” he said.
Parliamentary Committee on Health chairperson Matthews Ngwale said in an interview yesterday that they are also planning to engage both government and healthcare workers in talks.
He explained that it was unfortunate that government took the matter to court, saying in the first place, the committee should have been involved in the talks regarding the conciliation agreement.
“The committee has the capacity to resolve the matter. There is still room for dialogue and we will examine this matter seriously,” he said.
According to the letter from the Secretary for Human Resources Management and Development to the Ministry of Health dated June 24 2024, the top-up allowances, covering grades C to M, ranged from K526 500 to K50 000 per month.
