FAM drafts Players Welfare Fund policy

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has drafted a Players Welfare Fund policy which delegates the responsibility of implementing the initiative to Super League of Malawi (Sulom).

According to the draft policy, FAM’s responsibility is to develop the policy and through the secretariat, provide Sulom with technical administrative service to the management of the fund on behalf of the trustees.

The policy states that the fund will take a variety of forms including health, legal, educational, financial and general work hazard regiments.

The draft policy reads: “Football needs to be approached with a professional face at all levels—from the administrative aspect to the participation aspect—so as to create an acceptable environment that is economically profitable to all stakeholders and has the welfare of all participants at heart to instill confidence and trust in the game.”

Some of the forms of the Players Welfare Fund include medical schemes and injury insurance, financial servings and players to be under contracts that are within labour laws provisions such as minimum wage.

Active and former players will be eligible for K100 000 ($144) financial help for education, K50 000 ($72) in case of death and K50 000 when bereaved.

FAM is expected to appoint trustees for the fund to be approved by the association’s general assembly. A fund manager will also be appointed.

The policy comes after the fund failed to roll out following resistance from clubs due to lack of the terms of reference for the funds.

As 2016 season enters week four, clubs are yet to remit the three percent share to FAM.

But Sulom vice-president Daud Suleman, who is also a member of the players welfare committee, said the policy will clear misconceptions that were there.

“It does answer a lot of questions asked by stakeholders and sets the platform for the implementation of the players welfare fund. The policy was adopted by FAM executive committee and it has been pushed to Sulom, clubs and Players Welfare Committee for execution,” said Suleman.

The Players’ Welfare Committee’s responsibility is to review the applications lodged with the welfare fund.

Sulom’s responsibility is ensure that all clubs abide by the provisions of the policy while clubs are urged to sensitize their players of the provisions of the welfare so that they understand the how the procedures are set.

Football Players Association of Malawi (FPAM) Ojukwu Malunga said the policy had enlightened the members of the association who are looking forward to the fund.

Only players that are registered with Super League clubs and members of FPAM are eligible for the welfare.