Proper Legislation Needed to Resolve Public Sector Industrial Strikes -Chakwera

Proper Legislation Needed to Resolve Public Sector Industrial Strikes -Chakwera

Chakwera 

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president and Leader of Opposition in Parliament suggests that a proper legislation is needed to take care issues of workers in the civil service in order to end numerous industrial strikes that have been happening recently.

Chakwera was reacting to the just ended strike by the workers at parliament. The strike halted national assembly business for two days a development which opposition parties described it as an embarrassing moment for Malawi government for letting such a thing happen.

Striking Worker carrying banner of salary demand 

"We were informed by the honorable  speaker before we rose on Monday that there had been notice on impending industrial action by the staff of parliament and that necessary procedure had been followed and negotiations have been taking place."

Part of Striking workers 

"These issues were supposed to be resolved even before this 3rd Meeting of 45 Session began." He said

"Obviously the programme that had been outlined for this meeting obviously there would be some delay"

Striking Workers carrying banners 

"Issues of this nature needs to be resolved as most expeditiously as possible" he said and suggested "if we go deeper into situation of this nature there is need for legislation that takes care of workers generally because the understanding has been  policy on salary harmonisation and some quarters have questioned that because different entities have had legislation that takes care of their remuneration and until that legislation is changed you do not apply policy over law."

Leonard Tilingamawa President for
Parliamentary Workers Union speaking to Press 

For two sitting days (Tuesday and Wednesday) national assembly was at a stand still as workers downed their tools demanding government to accept full implementation of 24% salary increment