Efforts to resolve a salary dispute between Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) management and Escom Staff Union (ESU) have started in earnest, mediator and University of Malawi law professor Garton Kamchedzera has confirmed.
In a written response yesterday, the legal scholar said he has since been in touch with both sides to the matter.
Said Kamchedzera: “The conciliation process has started today and due to the public interest in this matter, the two sides will fully inform the public and the media as the process progresses.”
Speaking in an interview yesterday, ESU secretary general William Mnyamula said they will meet Escom management and engage the conciliator on the way forward and dates for negotiations.
“We will have to ask the conciliator on the dates that he will be available. We will know about the time-frame and the intervals of the talks when all parties sit and agree on that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mnyamula said they have put on hold their plans to withdraw labour to allow for the talks to materialise.
“We need to give importance to the power of collective bargaining and social dialogue. If this fails, our intention to withdraw labour shall proceed,” he said.
The mediation follows communication from Ministry of Labour Principal Secretary Wezi Kayira acknowledging receipt of a letter jointly issued by ESU and Escom management on their agreement to have Kamchedzera as conciliator.
In the December 18 2023 letter, the ministry advised ESU and Escom management to agree on a conciliator in line with Section 44 (2) of Labour Relations Act to conciliate in this matter.
Escom public relations manager Kitty Chingota said the response from the ministry means they will have to go ahead with the negotiations.
In December 2023, some Escom employees took to the streets in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu cities to protest a 10 percent salary increment offer. ESU is pushing for a 44 percent salary increase and gave their management up to December 28 2023 to resolve the dispute.
Source: The Nation Online_January 23, 2024.