Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) has urged the government to involve private sector players when dictating measures to avert possible impact of Covid-19 on the job market and the economy.
Ecama Executive Director, George Khaki, said players industry are not part of the decision making process on remedies to possible effect Covid-19.
“It is imperative that responses to the unveiling situation should be multidimensional and multidisciplinary in order to adequately respond to current situation.
“Leaving them out of the decision making process means that the outcomes may not reflect industry needs and concerns and thus hinder the responses from the industry perspective,” Khaki said.
He further said the messages and actions from the government are contradicting which is diverting focus from the fight against Covid-19 citing recent pronouncements on churches and elections.
Minister of Information, Mark Botomani, said in the same programme that the process should be two-way in that if the government is not reaching out the private sector should bring suggestions.
“This week we are meeting the clergy and we will continue to meet and engage various stakeholders. The government is ready to meet every stakeholder as earlier indicated,” Botomani said.
Among major resolutions impinging on the private sector is President Peter Mutharika’s directive that companies should not retrench employees despite worries that business flow may slow down.
