Africa-Press – Malawi. Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has lamented the deteriorating working conditions in most companies in Malawi, observing that what majority of the employers are doing is a violation of workers’ rights.
Chakwera, who was speaking in Mzuzu during activities to commemorate this year’s Labour Day on Sunday, also observed that most employers do not meet the government set minimum wage bill for the salaries of their workers.
He warned that his government will deal with any employer found to be violating labour laws. Chakwera further chastised some investors whom he accused of violating laws by, among others, importing labour from their respective countries at the expense of Malawians.
“I am aware that some investors are even employing security guards from their countries. This is not against the law and must stop immediately,” he said.
The Malawi leader also issued a stern warning against companies, which are reportedly employing children in their workplace in order to enjoy cheap labour. He urged those with knowledge or information about such companies to report to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
Chakwera’s warning follows revelations that child labour remains widespread in Malawi with the most recent National Child Labour Survey (NCLS 2015) showing that 38 percent of children aged 5 – 17 are involved in child labour, the majority of whom are working in the agriculture sector, and approximately half of whom are engaged in hazardous child labour.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM) recently intervened to signed an action programme to mobilise the country’s private sector in the fight against child labour in Malawi.
The new action programme will see ECAM establish a National Employer Taskforce Against Child Labour, promote child labour elimination policies and practices across the private sector, and facilitate more and better Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investments by companies to address the root causes of child labour in supply chains.
But the President said this needs to stop forthwith. Speaking earlier, the Minister of Labour, Vera Kamtukule, warned any company against paying below the government set minimum wage of MK50, 000.
During the function, President of Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU), Charles Kumchenga, urged employers to respect their workers’ rights. Kumchenga deplored the tendency by some employers to retrench staff and reduce salaries in the name of Covid-19.
“That is not allowed. Employees have rights which need to be respected. These people have the right to a good salary, the right to join trade unions, and even the right to be heard in times of grievances,” he said.
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