By Daniel Zimba
The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) and the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) have disagreed over the revised minimum wage standards recently announced by the government.
Before new minimum wages are announced, representatives of the government, employers and employees usually meet to agree on the figures to be gazetted.
However, recent discussions ended in a deadlock after both sides proposed different adjustments.
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MCTU demanded an increase of between 90 and 100 percent to cushion workers against the rising cost of living, while Ecam proposed a 25 percent increase.
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The government later intervened through the Ministry of Labour, Skills and Innovation and gazetted a 25 percent increase.
Speaking on Kulinji programme on Times Radio, MCTU president Kelvin Chifunda expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, saying the increase only reflected Ecam’s position.
“We expected the government to go for a win-win situation by at least gazetting a 50 percent increase in wages,” Chifunda said.
However, Ecam Executive Director George Khaki welcomed the government’s intervention, describing it as necessary despite concerns from workers.
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“Now that the wages are gazetted, there is no need for us to raise issues. While acknowledging that the gazette has not satisfied all expectations, at least it will be helpful,” Khaki said.
Under the new framework, domestic workers will earn a minimum of K83,720 per month, up from K72,800, while commercial workers’ minimum wage has increased from K126,000 to K157,500.
Workers in micro and small enterprises will earn a minimum of K131,250, up from K105,000, while shop workers will receive at least K187,500 per month.
Minimum wages for truck drivers have also increased. International drivers operating vehicles above 30 tonnes will now earn K410,375 per month, up from K328,300.
Labour rights advocate Robert Mkwezalamba agreed with MCTU that the new standards fall short given the current economic conditions.
Mkwezalamba said both employers and employees were victims of macroeconomic shocks, but suggested the government should have gazetted an increase of at least 40 percent.
