World Vision staff down tools

About 500 employees of the Christian international non-governmental organisation World Vision Malawi (WVM) from across the country have gathered at the head office in Lilongwe to protest lack of action on their demands for a salary increment which has not been implemented for six years and failure to roll out fixed term contracts.

WVM national director Paulaw  confirmed to Nation Online that the staff strike was going ahead but they would continue to urge the employees not to abandon the negotiating table so that misunderstandings can be resolved.

However, a meeting scheduled for Monday morning failed as the staff maintained their resolve to down tools today.

A petition to be presented to management today indicates wrangles between the WVM senior management team and workers representatives have been ongoing for several years to the extent that complaints were lodged with the Malawi Industrial Relations Court, whose rulings management have largely ignored.

The workers also accuse management of cheating them by substituting a requirement for annual salary review with a temporary periodic cushioning allowance which ends up being taxed and has eventually been withdrawn from staff salaries.

The staff demand that senior management address the WVM conditions of service, which although touted to be the best, has seen eight high profile staff resign in two months.

“Staff body in this petition demands salary increase of 80 percent effective 1st October 2013, to cater for cost of living for the 6 years gone without adjustment. This salary adjustment must not be confused with performance based remuneration,” the petition reads in part.