ESCOM WORKERS TO GO ON STRIKE

Malawians across the country have to brace for more blackouts as Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) workers have threatened to go on strike starting from December 1, 2015.

The development follows the decision by the Ministry of Energy and Mining to split the Parastatal into two entities with one focusing on power generation and the other dealing with transmission.

The workers are said to be living in fear for their Jobs as others will lose their Job in the process.

According to a statement made available to FaceofMalawi, the workers says the strike follows unfruitful discussion with the Ministry of Labour, Youth and Manpower Development to reconcile the two parties on the necessity for a cut-off point and separation package upon the unbundling of the utility body back in June 2015 and the expiry date of the ultimatum served to Escom management and government.

“We Escom members of staff hereby sincerely notify the general public that we are to withdraw our labour at the expiry of our notice period (30th November 2015) served to our employers and government following the failure by Ministry of Labour to reconcile the two parties,” read in part the statement.

Adds the statement: “Having noted the uncertainty in job security after the unbundling and the previous negative experiences of employees after restructuring of government entities and the reluctance to issue individual letters to employees of assurance of continued employment and maintenance of the prevailing conditions of service, we members of staff at Escom declared a dispute with the Principal Secretary for Labour and invoked all necessary procedures for mediation as stipulated in the Labour Relations Act.”

Effort to talk to ESCOM Public Relations Officer proved futile.

Meanwhile there fears that the strike by ESCOM workers across the country will worsen power supply in the country.