Nurses under National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (Nonm) and Physician Assistant Union of Malawi (Pauma) have threatened to hold an industrial strike next week if the government fails to increase their allowances by April 15 this year.

Nonm President Shouts Simeza says since signing an agreement with the Ministry of Health, which committed to engage the Secretary to the Treasury and Director of Human Resource Management and Development for a possible consideration, they have not received any feedback.

Simeza adds Nonm agreed with the government to have their salaries increased by 15 percent but on condition that the sector’s allowances be increased by varying percentages which he refused to disclose for fear of breaking an oath they took.

The sector has among others risk allowances, government top-up allowances, professional allowances and locum.

Malawi Human Rights Commission executive secretary Habiba Osman says they completed their mediation task, saying the ball is now in the court of the Ministry of Health.

Both spokesperson and Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Health are yet to respond to questionnaire.

Copied:Times360Malawi