ILO says Malawi labour skills among the worst
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) says Malawi stands little chance to survive a massive economic downturn owing to its low levels of labour skills.
ILO made the revelation during the just concluded International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland where it emerged that Malawi is among four countries with the worst labour skills in the world.
The organisation said low-skilled workers encounter increasing difficulties to find a job, face low job stability and are out-competed by medium-skilled workers even in elementary occupations.
Speaking in an interview, Ministry of Labour and Manpower Development deputy labour commissioner Wafwile Musukwa, who led the Malawi delegation to the summit, confirmed the issue of expertise was among the topics covered.
ILO quoted the European Vacancy and Recruitment Report 2014 that rated Germany alongside Sweden and Austria as star performers in the economic recession that hit Europe some years ago with the body, saying it all boils down to the levels of skilled labour of a particular State.
However, it was not all gloom for Malawi at the conference as Musukwa said the country’s move to implement community technical colleges received support from ILO.
He said some officials from ILO will visit Malawi to assess how best they can help out.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Development has announced plans to establish employment service bureaus nationwide to mitigate challenges job-seekers meet in their endeavours.
Outlining details of the scheme in an interview, Minister of Labour and Manpower Development Henry Mussa said the move will provide a platform for prospective employers and job-seekers to meet.
He said: “Amid rising employment challenges in the country, we still believe job opportunities exist out there with prospective employers looking for someone to fill in some posts.
“So, basically, the ministry will be looking at capturing data of all employable job-seekers, like their CVs which will be stored in a central data base.”
President Peter Mutharika made the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Development one of his administration’s key ministries; putting vocational skills a priority in attempts to avert increasing unemployment in the country.
