By Cathy Maulidi
Government has come under criticism for playing hide and seek on the labour export deal with Israel.
After days of intense speculation and clear activities in Lilongwe of people being prepared for the trip, government remained mum—until early Sunday morning when it circulated a statement confirming it was party to the deal.
But Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Gift Trapence has questioned government’s motive for being secretive on the matter.
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“HRDC condemns the government for being secretive on the labour export agreement it has entered with Israel. Government actions on labour export to Israel should be transparent.
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“The government in this case should come in the open on the labour related agreements that they have entered with Israel. Government should be forthcoming with giving citizens right information so that even those being recruited to go to work in such countries should make informed decisions,” Trapence said.
Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa who first brought up the issue in Parliament on Thursday, suggested government had opted to keep the issue under wraps because it knows this is an “evil transaction”.
When Nankhumwa asked government to explain about it, government side in Parliament cried havoc, claiming it was a security issue and a lie.
In an interview yesterday in response to government finally owning up to the deal, Nankhumwa wondered why government has gone into such agreement with Israel companies when it knows fully well that there is war in Israel.
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“Firstly, I would like to say that I have been vindicated. Since this is a developing story I shall continue giving updates. “This is surprising. This is an evil transaction. No sane parent can send his or her child to a country that is at war,” Nankhumwa said.
In a statement signed by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Wezi Kayira, government says it has embarked on the export of labour to various countries including Israel as one way of creating jobs for youth and generating forex for the country.
It further says the youths are being sent to Israel to work in farms.
“Government would like to inform the general public that the safety and security of the youth is paramount. The youth will work at a certified and approved locations which are classified as fit and safe environment,” reads the statement in part.
It further says more youths will be engaged in the programme.
“This programme will benefit both individuals and the nation. A portion of wages will cover living cost in Israel while the remainder will be remitted to personal accounts here in Malawi to boost foreign exchange,” it says.
In 2013, the Joyce Banda administration also announced it had struck a labour export deal with South Korea for 100,000 Malawian youths.
There has been no information from the government as how that deal progressed.
