MP queries no pay to 36 000 care givers

Chiradzulu South member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Mwanamvekha (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) has questioned government’s failure to pay 36 000 early childhood education caregivers despite committing to do so two years ago.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, he wondered why it has taken years for government to start paying caregivers who are doing a commendable work of preparing children for primary education.

Currently, caregivers are entitled to a K15 000 monthly allowance and yet the minimum wage in the country is K50 000 per month.

Mwanamvekha, a former minister of Finance, expressed concern that failure to pay caregivers is affecting service delivery.

He said: “What is the status of payment of allowances for these caregivers who are doing a good job to our young ones?

“We have a number of community-based childcare centres, but the challenge is that the caregivers are not being supported.”

In response, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza conceded that the issue has taken long to be addressed, but said her ministry has been discussing with Treasury to include all caregivers in the budget.

However, she said resources were a challenge such that including all the 36 000 caregivers will demand more.

“The Minister of Finance is cooperating with us and he has assured us that he will include some of them and not all of them at once,” said Sendeza.

She said 2 000 caregivers were already on government payroll in the 2022/23 National Budget.

During the 2023/24 National Budget presentation in February this year, government committed to look into the welfare of the caregivers.