By Joyce Randeera
The Malawi Government with support from Global Fund intends to employ about 4000 health workers. The interviews were slated to start today, 18th January 2024 through to 20th across the country, will proceed despite some workers employed under similar scheme obtaining an ex-parte court order aimed at stopping the interview process.
According to their application for the injunction, the health workers who are already employed by the Government were arguing that the Government should promote them first before employing other health workers.
The order, which was obtained from Industrial Relations Court sitting in Mzuzu, indicated that the applicants should file an inter-partes application within 14 days. During the inter-parte hearing, the Government is expected to argue against the applicant’s case and possibly clear the path for jobless health professionals to walk to the interview sessions.
In a statement released by Ministry of Health today, the Government will proceed with the interviews following discussions between the Ministry and those who obtained the injunction.
“In the discussions that were moderated by the Honourable the Attorney General, the parties have agreed to have the court order lifted through a consent order having understood that the prospective recruitment of healthcare workers has been wholly funded by Malawi’s development partners”, read part of the statement.
Shire Times further understands that the discussions also illuminated how their demand of getting promoted at the expense of recruiting new personnel was irregular. “The Public Service Act”, says the Government communication, “requires that entry into and advancement within the public service should be determined solely based on merit, namely: relative ability, knowledge, skill and aptitude after a fair and open competition which ensures that all citizens receive equal opportunity”.
The development implies that the health workers who seek promotion will have to undergo promotion interviews which, according to the discussions that have yielded the lifting of the order, are expected to take place soon.
