As days are getting closer for civil servants to start their planned nationwide strike next week Monday, the Physician Assistants Union of Malawi (PAUM) have placed their endorsement card.

In a statement dated January 5, 2023, the Union said its members represent 85 percent of clinical staff in government hospitals as well as Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) hospitals hence a need to work with other sister unions on issues of common interests.

Solomon David Chomba, PAUM president said the concerns raised by civil servants’ mother body Civil Servants Trade Union (CSTU) and Teacher Union of Malawi (TUM) cannot be given a blind.

“Issues of high cost of living with low wages amongst PAUM members cannot be given a blind eye without proper action. PAUM fully supports the concerns raised by CSTU and TUM, which centers on the challenges faced by civil servants due to high cost of living against the earning capacity of civil servants,” said Chomba.

He then added that PAUM member are suffering the same fate as the rest of the civil servants, and fully stands with the decision made by CSTU and TUM to bring attention to government to address the concerns faced by civil servants as a matter of urgency.

“it is therefore with this background that PAUM whose majority of its members are civil servants fully endorse the decision made by CSTU and TUM and thus encourages all PAUM members to take part in the organized strike if government decides not to bow down to the demands of CSTU,” Chomba concluded.

CSTU and TUM are pushing for salary increment for civil servants attributing high cost of living as sanctioned by economic woes rocking the country.

Yesterday, government approached the leadership of civil servants union and offered them a dialogue before proceeding with their decision to hold a nationwide strike.

Government and civil servants representative are scheduled to meet today in Lilongwe at Kumbali Lodge for dialogue.

We will keep you updated.