Healthcare workers in fresh push for allowance
National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives (Nonm) and Physician Assistants Union of Malawi (Paum) have revived their push for implementation of remaining allowance adjustments from a February 13 2024 conciliation agreement.
In a letter addressed to Secretary to the Treasury Betchani Tchereni, Paum and Nonm leaders Solomon Chomba and Shouts Simeza said during the consultative meetings held previously, it was agreed that the balance in the allowances would be implemented in the 2024/25 Mid-Year Budget Review.

They said that while they were grateful that government already implemented part of the allowance adjustments as outlined in the agreement, they noted that there is still unfinished business.
Reads the letter in part: “During the consultative meetings held so far, it was suggested that the balance of these allowances would be implemented in the budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
“We also wish to remind you of our letter, dated November 2 2024 with reference number: Nonm/Paum/02/11/01, which was submitted to your office regarding this matter.”
But in an interview yesterday, Treasury spokesperson Williams Banda said the letter was erroneously addressed to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs instead of Ministry of Health.
He said: “Currently, we are receiving proposals from ministries, departments and agencies for consideration in the 2025/26 National Budget.
“We urge them to address their issue through the Ministry of Health. We note it was erroneously addressed to the Treasury.”
Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said she had not received the letter while the ministry’s Principal Secretary Samson Mndolo and spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe were not immediately available for comment.
The healthcare workers have been pushing for their professional allowance to be increased to K30 000 per month but, so far, the adjustment has ranged from K4 000 to K11 500, leaving a balance of K18 500 to K26 000 for the lower and senior cadres, respectively.
The top-up allowance was proposed to be revised to K70 000 and K710 000, respectively but government approved K50 000 for lower cadres and K510 000 for senior officers.
Further, risk allowance was proposed at K150 000 for lower cadres and K60 000 for senior cadres but was not revised during the last adjustment announced by government on June 28 2024.
During the pre-hearing meeting held on July 22 2024, the parties agreed that the remaining balance for each of the allowances should be considered during the 2024/25 Mid-Year Budget Review.