Teachers resolve to call off strike as negotiations for Covid-19 risk allowances continue

Parents and learners can now breathe a sigh of relief following the decision by Teaches’ Union of Malawi (TUM) to call off the stay away pending resolutions of the discussions between the government and the union.

From right to the left–Nyirenda, Haridi and other TUM leaders addressing journalists in Lilongwe a short while ago–Photo by Watipaso Mzungu, Nyasa Times
TUM leaders briefing journalists about the suspension of the stay away in Lilongwe–Photo by Watipaso Mzungu

TUM addressed journalists in Lilongwe on Thursday morning that the suspension of the strike follows commitments President Lazarus Chakwera during the meeting he held with the leadership of the union at the Kamuzu Palace earlier in the week.

Haridi said Chakwera had made a number of commitments, including his government’s commitment to improving the living standards of the teachers in Malawi.

“The President assured us that he understands that the teaching industry is one of the largest in the civil service; that as President of this country, he is committed to serving Malawians in everything and in response to the Covid-19 risk allowance, the President directed the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Response to deliberate and discuss the issue,” she said.

The union’s first vice president Bresters Nyirenda said TUM is committed to the promotion of quality education by ensuring child right to education and teachers welfare as it is a catalyst and developmental partner in socio-economic development of the nation.

Nyirenda said it is in cognizance of the above that TUM has resolved to suspend the industrial action with immediate effect and that teachers should return to work while the union continues engaging authorities at the Capital Hill on their request for Covid-19 risk allowance.

Meanwhile, TUM has also requested President Chakwera to consider appointing a TUM representative as an ex-official member of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 Response who should be a focal person between the teachers and the taskforce.

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Koka
Koka
3 years ago

No risk allowance for teachers. What for?

Absolutely pathetic demand by the teachers.

This culture of allowances must not be given a chance. It is draining the small cow to its knees.

Wakwiya ndi kadeti
3 years ago

Check for cadets in TUM. These guys are thieves.

Chiswa B
Chiswa B
3 years ago

ZIKUMVEKA KUTI THIS GROUPING THAT HELD A PRESSER ISNT FROM REAL TUM? TACTICS USED BY THE LATE DPP , DIVIDE AND RULE

Ellen Phiri
Ellen Phiri
3 years ago
Reply to  Chiswa B

TRUE. CHAKWERA’S divide and rule tactic terribly backfired.

Assange
3 years ago

Find another way of getting money from the government and not through Covid-19. Inunso mutha kupatsa ana virus kulekana ndi ma nurse who are treating the patients with the disease. You are not at risk at all as long as you keep distance, wear masks, wash hands frequently etc. Will the allowance save your life? Bodza ili a TUM mungofuna kuzunguza basi. Everyone has a chance of getting coronavirus. Wait for the vaccine and mukakana don’t teach because you will be a threat to the society.

Jah
Jah
3 years ago
Reply to  Assange

its their right to ask. Government is for everyone

Medsonchimudima3@gmail.com
3 years ago

If teachers receives allowances
Learners should also receive.
Coz these teachers too could spread covid19 to the learners

Ian Gumba
Ian Gumba
3 years ago

Izi takhala tikunena kuti aTUM imafuna playing with the minds of teachers just imagine asamafuna risk allowance koma commitment from the president and represntative wawo ku covid 19 task force basi kudzikundikira okha. Za allowance iwalaniko aphunzitsi chonde a Nyirenda ndi a Malimba alandira fat envelopes inuyo aphunzitsi muli kukamwa yatuyatu ndi choko. TUM sibungwe lothandiza aphunzitsi koma kulemerera pa mitu ya phunzitsi. Zachisoni kwambiri kuona aphunzitsi achinyamata ndi achitsikana ali tulo phwi kuombera mmanja TUM. Wake up teachers it’s high time TUM had been using and misusing your hard earned funds.

Mzakwacha Nixon's
Mzakwacha Nixon's
3 years ago

Straight Talk, Teachers don’t deserve allowances,for what?if that’s the case,give allowances to all civil servants&all local villagers/citizens of malawi because they also meet people in their respected fields/areas respectively… Doctors,nurses(Health personnels)deserve,they are on high risk,they meet patients,even teachers with Covid go to doctors/hospital to get treated..there4,they don’t because,allowances don’t protect individuals from getting infection. Dear your Excellency,don’t give teachers please or else,expect each and every civil servant,chief&their subjects to strike,claiming such. Use the Covid money purposely&not to any Jimm&Jack that is in Government. Please Teachers,you don’t deserve l,read my message between lines . You will understand Let’s try to build… Read more »

Kulemera kwatenganyengo
Kulemera kwatenganyengo
3 years ago

True

Chiswa B
Chiswa B
3 years ago

MWE BA SAMBIZGI MUTIYANKHULITSA MOLAKWIKA. YOUR LEADERSHIP AT TUM IS DELIBERATELY OR UNKNOWINGLY MISINFORMING ITS MEMBERS. UNIVERSAL APPLICATION OF RISK ALLOWANCES IS NEVER POSSIBLE. EVEN IN HEALTH, POLICE, ARMY, PRISON, NOT EVERYONE IS GETTING THESE ALLOWANCES.

Ellen Phiri
Ellen Phiri
3 years ago

Not true. The stay away is continuing. Government should ask itself: why did it close schools in the first place? By closing schools, it suggests that government recognised schools as risky environment. As such, teachers are right to demand risk allowance just like others who are getting it.

Hawell
3 years ago
Reply to  Ellen Phiri

Quite right! If they think schools are not hotspots for covid then they should not close from now on otherwise risk allowances more fire!

Mabvuto
Mabvuto
3 years ago
Reply to  Ellen Phiri

Its not only schools that were closed even Bars ,so you mean those people should get allowance my friend teachers already had allowance for more than 8 months pay without working is that not enough ?

Matambiko
Matambiko
3 years ago
Reply to  Ellen Phiri

Pepani kwambiri mwagwa nayo. As the teachers too can transmit the virus to their pupils should the latter claim risk allowance? Kuganiza mopepela.

PelomaPepe
PelomaPepe
3 years ago
Reply to  Ellen Phiri

I really like the reasoning here. It’s better for teachers to have risk allowances than have the money end up in the pockets of few mbavas.

Mwini muzi
Mwini muzi
3 years ago
Reply to  Ellen Phiri

Government closed schools to fix the environment which would affect teachers’ working conditions. In this context, government had to provide more class rooms to decongest in quest to meet social distance requirements. It had to employ more temporary teachers, provide masks, sanitizers, water buckets and ensure there is a borehole at every school. By doing all these, the risk would become minimal and well managed. No need for risk allowance thereafter. As for medical staff, well they are at high risk because they meet sick people every day which they have to do diagnosis on them on close contact. They… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Mwini muzi
Jose
Jose
3 years ago
Reply to  Ellen Phiri

Poor reasoning. Govt. wanted to address congestion which has been done. It’s not that pupils have Covid. Teachers do not deserve allowances they are not dealing with patients unlike frontline health workers. Allowances culture is destroying our nation!!!

Ulemu Banda
Ulemu Banda
3 years ago
Reply to  Ellen Phiri

The whole concept of risk allowance is flawed. Getting money in your bank account does not prevent one from contracting COVID-19. We need to stop these nonsense Malawians!!

Segwe
Segwe
3 years ago

Boma ili linafunika mupitilize they will not give u a single tambala munya muona

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