Admarc fully operational, hires 1 300 new employees

State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) is now fully operational following the recruitment of 1 300 out of 1 600 new staff establishment, it has emerged.

The filling of 85 percent vacancies follows the 100 percent staff retrenchment which Admarc implemented in January this year as part of restructuring the financially-crippled firm.

In a written response on Friday, Admarc public relations manager Agnes Ndovi said the parastatal is now ready to serve Malawians next harvesting season as it has been recruiting staff in various positions since March this year.

She said as of Friday, about 85 percent of the 1 600 total available positions were filled and that some successful candidates have reported for duties.

Said Ndovi: “All the key positions have been filled. These include executive management team [chief executive officer and three directors], senior managers, senior officers, unit market officers and security guards.

“Currently, recruitments are ongoing for the remaining positions and should be completed by the end of the year. Admarc is now in full operation and ready to serve Malawians during the coming season.”

Before the retrenchment, Admarc had about 4 000 staff, representing a 60 percent decrease from the current 1 600 total staff establishments.

But Ndovi could not indicate how many Admarc markets will be in operation following the reduced number of staff.

Commenting on the matter, social and governance commentator Humphrey Mvula noted that reducing the number of Admarc staff would be one of the turnaround strategies to make the parastatal a profit making institution.

He said the restructuring has some negative social implications such as reduced job opportunities amongst Malawians.

“This restructuring also means the reduced existence of Admarc. They will be available in selected areas as a business unit of government,” said Mvula.

The recruitment also comes at time some former Admarc employees have sued the parastatal and pension fund managers Old Mutual Malawi for their retrenchment benefits.

The 4 062  ex-workers are seeking K3 billion pension funds, unpaid salary for skeleton staff, public holidays’ pay, four hours overtime and repatriation allowance, filed at the Industrial Relations Court, Mzuzu Registry.

Admarc is one of the parastatals that have been struggling financially and has over the years failed to serve Malawians as per its mandate as a produce price stabiliser and ready market for farmers. Admarc has also failed to perform its social function as government’s food security apparatus.

In September 2022, Ministry of Agriculture closed Admarc and sent its entire staff on paid leave to pave the way for restructuring. However, it continued to perform some social services with selected staff members.