President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the Minister of Labour to follow up on reports that some employers are falling short of giving their workers the government set minimum wage.
Addressing a crowd that gathered at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre for the commemoration of Labour Day, Dr Chakwera emphasized that it is the desire of his administration for Malawi to fully embrace all protocols by the International Labour Organisation pertaining to the issue of minimum pay for workers.
Both Malawi Congress of Trade Union President Charles Kumchenga and Secretary General Madalitso Njolomole lamented how some companies, organisations and individuals have been deliberately turning a blind eye to the government-set minimum wage for workers.
In January, Capital Hill had set the minimum wage for general workers at K90,000 per month and at the beginning of April announced a 12 percent pay hike for civil servants.
Taking her turn, Minister of Labour, Agness NyaLonje, said the country’s labour force can achieve great strides if all stakeholders work together.
“We should even strive to go beyond the $2 (approximately K3,600) a day minimum rate that is currently being offered,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Dr Chakwera, together with the Vice President Saulos Chilima, joined in a solidarity parade that was organised as part of the Labour Day celebrations.
