Deputy Chief Secretary to the Government Stewart Ligomeka has urged employers to invest in employee development, well-being and improved conditions of service, saying skilled workers are critical to organisational growth and productivity.
He said on Friday in Blantyre during the Institute of People Management Malawi (IPMM) annual dinner and dance that organisations should prioritise investment in their employees if they are to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world.
“My message to employers who are not investing in issues of human resources is simple and straightforward, invest,” said Ligomeka, warning that organisations that fail to invest in their people cannot expect to grow or maximise profits.
He said one of the key areas employers should focus on is continuous training to equip employees with skills required in an evolving workplace.
“Most of the time it is training. It can be on-the-job training or long-term or short-term training. The world is changing. We now have artificial intelligence and many other developments,” he said.
He said the Human Resource Bill is currently being developed and that once approved by Cabinet, it will be tabled in Parliament to regulate the human resource profession.
IPMM president Frank Sabola said companies and organisations should go beyond viewing employees as assets and instead focus on developing their skills.
“They say people are the greatest asset that every organisation can have. But I differ with that statement. I believe that skilled people are the greatest asset,” he said.
