By Daniel Zimba & Mercy Matonga:
President Peter Mutharika has said his administration remains committed to ensure welfare of workers, which he described as engine of national development.
He said government would continue to promote and safeguard workers’ rights, foster equitable workplaces, and enhance skills development, particularly for the youth in the country.
Mutharika said this Friday in a statement in commemoration of International Workers’ Day (Labour Day) celebrations.
He said there is need for Malawi to align its education with modern industry requirements for a workforce that drives a national development agenda.
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“By aligning our education with modern demands, supporting local industries, and encouraging entrepreneurship, we are building a workforce ready to lead Malawi’s industrialisation drive,” Mutharika says in the statement.
He urged employers to lead with fairness and empathy while encouraging workers to maintain integrity and excellence.
Commenting on the day, Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Simplex Chithyola Banda, voiced concerns over what he described as a “governance crisis” in Malawi as affecting workers.
He said the ongoing fuel shortages are disrupting businesses and households, affecting workers and decreasing productivity.
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He urged the government to restore accountability, protect freedoms and implement meaningful reforms.
“Labour Day is a covenant between the government and its people—a reaffirmation that work is honoured, workers are protected, and no citizen is left to struggle alone.
“The DPP government has broken that covenant. The opposition, on behalf of Malawians, demands that the government immediately address the situation Malawians want results; workers deserve better, and the time for action is now,” Banda said.
Chairperson for National Advocacy Platform Benedicto Kondowe said workers in the country continue operating under unfavorable systems and environments.
He called for improved conditions of service for all workers across the country, with maximum social and employment protection and recognition.
Kondowe further called for fairness in all institutions that are mandated to manage workers’ welfare.
During the celebrations marking the day in Lilongwe, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) called for a 100 percent increase in the minimum wage.
It said the current wages are no longer sustainable amid the rising cost of living in the country.
MCTU president Kelvin Chifunda said many workers are struggling to survive as prices of basic commodities continue to rise.
“We are still discussing it with the relevant authorities, but we are proposing a 100 percent increase in the minimum wage because the current wages cannot match the cost of living that workers are facing today,” Chifunda said.
He added essential goods and services continue to rise in price, while newly introduced taxes are further eroding workers’ incomes.
Chifunda also said MCTU is concerned with the backlog of labour cases at the Industrial Relations Court, with some cases dating back to 2005.
Responding to the concerns, Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation Joseph Chigona, who represented
Mutharika at the event, said government is focused on fixing the economy.
“Government is making tough and painful decisions, including the implementation of austerity measures, as a way of dealing with the economic crisis. Sooner or later, these tough decisions will yield the required gains,” Chigona said.
He added that discussions are at an advanced stage to operationalise the Workers’ Compensation Fund.
“The target is to have the fund in place before the end of the year. The minimum wage review is underway. Consultations with both workers and employers have been conducted, and new minimum wages will be gazetted soon,” Chigona added.
Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) representative Annie Chavura said employers acknowledge the importance of responsive labour frameworks that align with the continuously changing world of work.
“In respect of the Workers’ Compensation Fund, employers are ready to make their contributions so that the fund takes off. Ecam looks forward to urgent action and engagement on this critical matter,” Chavura said.
