President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights, acknowledging that many workers in Malawi face significant challenges, including low wages and poor working conditions.
Speaking on Labour Day at the main commemoration event in Balaka, President Chakwera highlighted government’s efforts to improve workers’ lives, including the removal of the K100,000 tax threshold.
“When I came to power, I knew that workers were struggling, so we took steps to help them,” he said. “We removed the K100,000 tax threshold to put more money in workers’ pockets.”
However, Dr Chakwera acknowledged that more needs to be done to address the exploitation of workers by some business people.
“Some business people are taking advantage of Malawians, and we will continue to meet with them to prevent this from happening,” he said.
On workplace safety, President Chakwera emphasized that government is committed to ensuring that workers are treated with dignity and respect.
“It is sad to note that some employers are still paying low wages and abusing workers,” he said. “We will continue to inspect companies to deal with those who oppress workers.”
The President also launched the National Code of Conduct on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, a significant step towards creating a safe and healthy work environment.
“Workers should not worry; we will do everything possible to fight for their rights,” he said.
In a country where many workers are engaged in manual labour, President Chakwera recognized the critical role they play in driving the economy.
“Without manual labour, children cannot go to school, and others cannot access essential services,” he said.
“We will continue to work towards ensuring that workers receive fair wages and decent working conditions.”
The launch of the National Code of Conduct on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work is a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to protect workers’ rights.
The code provides a framework for preventing and addressing violence and harassment in the workplace, and it will be implemented through a collaborative effort between government agencies, employers, and workers’ organizations.
By Mercy Zamawa
