Nkhata Bay DESC urged to promptly resolve wage claim cases

Training Officer for the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) Louis Sichali has urged Nkhata Bay District Environment Sub Committee (DESC) to prioritise the prompt resolution of the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) wage claim cases to ensure justice to participants.

Sichali said this Friday during an orientation to DESC members on CS-EPWP case management to ensure that all case management protocols are observed.

“There are many cases that come during the implementation of the project like participants receiving less wages or not receiving at all but they have worked.

“Also we have issues to do with the replacement of households. These need proper guidelines to be resolved hence the orientation,” he said.

According to Sichali if such cases are not diligently sorted out, participants are demoralised.

“Our emphasis therefore is that all cases that deal with money claims have to be resolved within two weeks upon completion of the phase,” he added.

He, therefore, advised DESC members to always provide verdicts of cases to the participants and reduce the cases received during payday by sensitising the participants on the modalities and requirements for someone to work in the programme.

In her remarks, District Environmental Officer, Neva Mulungu said the training has been an eye-opener as new skills and insights that will enable DESC to manage cases efficiently and effectively were gained.

“We are committed to applying our newfound knowledge and skills to make sure that cases received at all levels are minimised,” she said.

Mulungu added that in the previous phase, the district recorded about 976 cases which have been resolved but with the training, there is hope that cases will be reduced in the subsequent phases.

District Programme Facilitator, Edward Ngwemba said the district will immediately go on the ground to orient all committee members on the new modalities as work is currently in progress.

CS-EPWP is implemented across the country by the National Local Government Finance Committee with Funding from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World Bank.