By Francisco Mwanza
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The sit-inn by Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) linesmen staff still on national wide which started on Monday, June 8, 2020.
The staffs are demanding that some of the company rules be revisited.
According to their letter dated May 28, 2020 addressed to their top officials including regional managers and directors, some of the demands include the risk allowance,promotions, entry points of linesmen and more.
One of the staffs who asked for anonymity revealed that some of the linesmen have saved on the same position for more than 20 years without promotion and this is making their life very difficult.
“As linesmen we work under dangerous conditions where its 50-50 chance to loose or have life. We sometimes work on live conductors and it requires our bravity to work using unreliable tools, as a matter of fact we take these risk almost daily knowing the important of having power in the country,” said linesman.
Reports indicates that currently there are no recruited linesmen in the corporation and the staffs are also demanding that for those who are already working to at-least be given ES11(a1) grade and those in (A1) be given S2 grade as this will motivate them, being the lowest paid linesmen in Africa.
The striking staff has given some more seven days for their bosses to respond to their grievances, failing which they will call for unspecified action.
