Court clerks on strike: court operations throughout Madagascar highly disturbed

The union of court clerks of Madagascar held a General Assembly last week, during which they announced a 15-days general strike in case the response to their demand would not be satisfactory. As the deadline the union established expired on Monday, November 26, the union started off the general strike which was effective throughout the country.

As a result of the strike, the daily operations of many courts throughout the country have been greatly disturbed or even suspended since the court clerks performed no reduced service during the first day of the strike. Concerning court clerks serving in Antananarivo, they gathered in front of the Court of Anosy. It is important to note that court clerks hold key positions in a court in that they assist judges in ensuring the good functioning of trials and other court operations, including keeping records and accounts of all court decisions and bills, providing specific information to judges and their substitutes. In short, without court clerks, a court could not just run efficiently. 

As a quick reminder, the union of court clerks demanded similar treatments as the other departments in the judiciary, including housing, transportation and social assistance allowances. They also demanded the payment of their salary bonuses for this year 2012.