Malawi: Health Workers Start Strike Over Allowances Demands

By Joseph Dumbula

Healthcare workers in Malawi have today shut hospital operations until the government implements their revised allowances and reviews conditions of service.

They are demanding higher wages; negotiations with authorities are ongoing but have not matched the unions' demands.

The action is however against Section 47 of the Labour Relations Act which prohibits essential service providers, such as healthcare workers from conducting a strike.

The Ministry of Health warned this week that those involved will face the law.

The National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (Nonm) and Physician Assistants Union of Malawi (Paum) have meanwhile threatened, they will not stop the action until government addresses their concerns.

The action has meanwhile started with the workers seen dancing and lingering around across hospitals.  

One of the health services seekers in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial capital has told the Pan African Visions that he was not able to be treated as the required section of the hospital was reportedly sealed.

Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said they will continue engaging concerned parties to avert the sit-in.

 She said: “As government, we remain committed, and are still talking with them, negotiating. I don’t think anybody is interested in having the sit-in because it affects health service delivery in the country,’’.

In recent times, government implemented a 15 percent salary increment, and committed to increase several allowances, including locum rates, risk or medical allowance, government top-up and professional allowance.