Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Malawi (Ratification: 1986)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments initially made in 2015.

Repetition

Article 2(1) of the Convention. National policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel. Following its request for information on the results of the Emergency Human Resources Plan and the Health Sector Programme of Work (PoW) 2004–10, the Committee notes the analysis contained in the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP), which is the successor to the PoW and covers the period 2011–16. It notes in particular that the HSSP indicates that the country continues to experience critical shortages of key health workers, including nurses and midwives. In this respect, one objective, which is identified, is to provide human resources that are adequate, properly trained and remunerated, well-motivated and capable of effectively delivering the Essential Health Package (EHP) to the Malawi population. The Committee invites the Government to provide information concerning the results of the implementation of the HSSP in this regard.

Article 2(3). Consultation with the employers’ and workers’ organizations concerned. The Committee notes that the HSSP indicates that the National Health Policy is in its final draft and the National Public Health Act is in the process of being reviewed. Recalling that the national policy concerning nursing services and nursing personnel shall be formulated in consultation with the employers’ and workers’ organizations concerned, where such organizations exist, the Committee hopes that such consultations will be duly undertaken, including with the National Organization of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (NONM), when finalizing the National Health Policy, as long as this policy concerns nursing services and nursing personnel. It requests the Government to provide information in this regard.

Article 5(2). Determination of conditions of employment and work. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a draft collective bargaining agreement for the nursing sector is in the process of being finalized. It requests the Government to provide up-to-date information on the collective bargaining process and to transmit a copy of any collective agreement for the nursing sector as soon as it is concluded.