1 million jobs strategy ready—Minister
Labour Minister Ken Kandodo has indicated that the creation of one million jobs, as promised by the Tonse Alliance-led administration, is on track despite being delayed by the Covid pandemic.
So far, the ministry has come up with a roadmap after consulting public and private sector players— a development that would culminate in the launch of the strategy next month.
The strategy, he said, would guide the creation of one million jobs.
“The Ministry of Finance has agreed to secure financial bonds that will enable the government to embark on 15 mega construction projects which include the construction of Mombera University in Mzimba and Judiciary complex in Lilongwe,” Kandodo said.
The ministry proposes, among other things, that 20 percent of work in every mega-project be awarded to small and medium enterprises, especially those run by youths who, according to Kandodo, are an integral part of every sector in the country.
“The Minister of Finance has told us, in his statement, that he is looking for a long-term bond so that he has 15 mega projects in this country. If that happens, we should be seeing jobs being created,” he said.
He said the ministry would be engaging other ministries on the need to review their policies to make businesses thrive, a development that would see local industry players exporting finished products.
The ministry would also get serious on monitoring the number of expatriates coming into the country so that only those with skills are allowed to add value to various sectors of the economy.
“The ministry has negotiated with the Ministry of Homeland Security to be part of scrutinising documents of expatriates before the documents are forwarded to the Ministry of Homeland Security,” he said.
Kandodo hinted that a portal would be created so that statistics on employment would be available at the tough of a button.
The creation of one million jobs was one of the campaign promises of the Tonse Alliance comprising Malawi Congress Party, UTM, People’s Party, Alliance for Democracy, Umodzi Party and People’s Progressive Movement, among others.
Mathews Kasanda is a journalist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Malawi (The Polytechnic).
In 2015, Media Institute of Southern Africa awarded him the Best Print Media Education Journalist of the Year accolade.
He joined Times Group Newsroom in September 2019.
