Malawi delays payment of civil servant salaries
Civil servants are expected to get their January salaries next month in what Malawi’s newly appointed Accountant General Thomas Makiwa said is due to almost a payroll hitch.
Accoutant General disclosed that departments delayed in submitting employee details and payment vouchers.
“The delay in submitting the GP5A forms and payment vouchers will affect the pay day for January 2014 salaries and also delay the process for February 2014 salaries,” reads the memo in part addressed to all departments.
Ministry of Finance spokesperson Nations Msowoya told Zodiak Broadcasting Service that controlling officers are required to submit this information by the 5th of every month.
“Submission of forms has taken a bit of time partly because civil servants went on holiday and only came back to work on 6 January,” explained Msowoya.
Msowoya said ministries that have fewer employees will get their pay sooner than those with many workers.
“Some will get paid on January 27 but certainly others will not be paid by 27 January. We are putting in place mechanisms to ensure that the delay is not protracted,” he said.
Civil Servants Trade Union (SCSTU) secretary general Pontius Kalichero expressed concern with the development, saying it will affect the wellbeing of civil servants.
“It is worrying that the delay in salaries is not becoming a trend. You will remember that in December, salaries were delayed, so will be our January pay. Definitely this will negatively affect the civil servants,” complained Kalichero.
Civil Servants’ salaries were also delayed December last year.
Commenting on the issue Executive Director for the Institute for Policy Interaction Rafik Hajat says: “How will Civil Servants survive whilst waiting for their salaries? How will they feed their families? This is how one creates fertile ground for corruption.”
