Complainants pen minister over IRC panellists

Aggrieved workers have complained to Minister of Labour Eunice Makangala that their cases at the Industrial Relations Court (IRC) have stalled because panellists have not yet been sworn in.

In a letter to Makangala, the complainants say the office of Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo is delaying in swearing- in the panellists who were appointed more than a year ago.

The complainants are asking Makangala to intervene and ensure that the Chief Justice expedites the swearing-in of the panellists representing employers to assist the court in hearing the cases.

One of the complainants, Blantyre-based Lewis Ng’oma, said he has waited for about three years for the court to intervene in his case after he lost his job at Dairibord Malawi in 2010. He says his suffering has been worsened by the court’s delays to handle his case.

Ng’oma said “In the three years I have been out of work, I have lived a miserable life. I have had frequent disconnections of utilities for non-payment of bills; failure to service loans taken while I was working and seizure of my property is very imminent as I am now considered a bad debtor.” he said.

Ng’oma said on top of his suffering, he still has to hire a lawyer to represent him in court.

In the letter dated February 11 2012, the complainants bemoaned the delay, saying thousands of people have been affected.

“Cases at the above court have been delayed unnecessarily. Some date back to 2006. The main problem has been the absence of panellists representing the employers who are provided by Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam),” reads the letter in part.

Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal and High Court acting registrar Mike Tembo last Thursday said Munlo has delayed to swear in the panellists because he was attending to some urgent issues.

 Makangala could not be reached on her phone last Wednesday and Thursday.