Fed up with low pay and unwillingness by their employers to discuss the matter, workers in Indian and Chinese-owned shops in Mzuzu City downed tools on Wednesday demanding improvement of their salaries.
And they got what they pushed for.
Their employers have agreed to increase the salaries by about 60 percent.
The workers and the employers reached the agreement during discussions held on Wednesday and Thursday.
This now means shop workers who were initially getting K50, 000 per month will now be paid K80, 000 per month.
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Wages for domestic workers have also gone up from K38, 000 to K60, 800. Participants at the meeting included representatives of the Chinese and Indian business community, the employees’ labour union and government officials.
Regional Coordinator for Commercial Industrial and Allied Workers Union, Anika Chagunda said the new salaries come into effect on August 1, 2023.
“All the employers have agreed to comply, she said. Chagunda also said they have warned the employers against firing of any of the employees who protested for the increment. She disclosed that they have agreed to have another meeting in August next year to discuss another increment to meet the cost of living.
“We have told them to be coming to meetings when we invite them because their failure to do so is what forced the workers to go to the streets.
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“We have also told them that we will meet again next year for another discussion on increment,” she said.
The meeting ended abruptly on Wednesday after both sides failed to reach a consensus.
This prompted the Mzimba North District Labour Office to shift the discussions to Thursday.
On Wednesday, the employees went around Mzuzu City to express displeasure with low wages and poor working conditions.
This led to the closure of shops.
consideration of high
cost of living
A representative of the Indian and Chinese employers, John Kudzala, said the decision has been made in consideration of the high cost of living despite the minimum wage being pegged at K50, 000.
“The law provides that the minimum wage be at K50, 000 but looking at the high cost of living, we have agreed to increase the salaries and we will now go and open the shops for business to continue,” he said.
