Group wants labour market regulated

BY ERIC MSIKITI

Labour Rights Organisation (Laro) has called on the government to come up with laws that regulate private employment agencies.

Laro Chairperson, Frank Adini, made the call recently in Blantyre on the side lines of a seminar for labour market players.

Adini said lack of regulation in the sector exposes Malawian workers to various safety risks and exploitation.

“The coming in of these agencies on the country’s job market is a very good development, but lack of regulation is the major challenge which needs to be looked into with urgency because the agencies could sometimes act as conduits for human trafficking, among others,” Adini said.

He said without proper regulations, the agencies, which are used by some companies and organisations wanting to hire staff at times, compromise the rights of employees to good contracts.

“There are times when people are contracted to do some work by an agency which has also been hired by another organisation. This leaves the workers in the dark as to who is the actual employer.

“This creates problems where the agency disappears without giving the workers their perks,”he said.

Supreme Labour Contractors and Associates Managing Director, Loti Kaira, described the seminar as an eye opener.