By Isaac Salima:
President Lazarus Chakwera Wednesday led Malawians in commemorating World Labour Day with a message of hope to workers that challenges they are encountering are temporary.
Presiding over the event at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre, Chakwera said his government has put in place measures aimed at addressing problems that people in the labour sector are facing.
“Recently, we came up with new guidelines that aim at addressing disagreements between employees and their employers and the minister responsible has a duty of ensuring that the law is adhered to. I am hopeful that when the law is fully operationalised, it will address challenges [that are] being faced in workplaces,” Chakwera said.
The President further said government had come up with a Pension Act that has seen the establishment of a Workers’ Compensation Fund to enable employees to easily access their pension funds and compensation.
- Advertisement -
“I have already appointed board members, who have started work, for the fund. So, if someone reminds you about challenges you have been encountering to get your pension funds, tell him that this is temporary because we are dealing with that,” he said.
The President also assured Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) that government is addressing some of its operational challenges.
“We have come up with the Tripartite Labour Advisory Council and we have already identified a site to construct MCTU offices because when you present your problems to me, I always ensure that I attend to them. So if someone reminds you that you do not have offices, tell them that the problem is temporary,” the President said.
He assured employees who are hit by the high cost of living that the government is coming up with cushioning measures, citing maize flour distribution, Mtukula Pakhomo initiative and the Affordable Inputs Programme so that people are assisted.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Minister of Labour Agness NyaLonje has commended Chakwera for creating jobs for people in the country.
NyaLonje cited the labour export deal with the Israeli government, implementation of the Mega Farms initiative and the recruitment of teachers and nurses among some examples.
She, however, said there is work to do to improve productivity levels.
“In 2021, International Labour Organisation statistics stated that productivity of Malawi was at two [United States] dollars, 38 cents per money hour. Our colleagues in the Sadc [Southern African Development Community] region are able to make nine dollars, 18 cents [in the same period]. Three countries in the Sadc region who are doing well on productivity have their people make over 20 dollars per hour. If we are to achieve [goals of the Malawi] 2063 vision, we need to work extra hard to produce more,” the minister said.
MCTU President Charles Kumchenga asked government to work on challenges that workers are facing in the country.
“We need to ratify the International labour Organisation’s Convention 190 as a way of dealing with violence and harassment at workplaces. We also presented grievances where employees continue struggling to get their pension funds because employers are not remitting their pension funds. These are things that we continue saying time and again,” Kumchenga.
The event started with Chakwera joining the workers in a solidarity walk from Robin’s Park Hall to Njamba.
This year’s event was held under the theme ‘Investing in Social Protection in Achieving Decent Work for All’.
