Health workers have threatened a fresh industrial action to protest the government’s decision to effect a 30 percent tax on their risk allowances relating to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Physicians Assistants Union of Malawi (Paum) president Dr Solomon Chomba told The Nation newspaper while the allowances and May salaries have not been paid, the union is calling out the government to compensate five health workers that have been confirmed to have been infected with Covid-19 in Blantyre.

In April, the government revised risk allowances for doctors, nurses and midwives, clinicians and medical assistants. The allowances were raised from the lowest K1 000 to K60 000 as the highest depending on grades.