Errant Chinese firms under fire

Trade unions and civil society organisations have accused some Chinese employers of violation of workers’ rights and have called on the Malawi Government to intervene.

Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) and Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) expressed their concerns in separate interviews with The Nation in reaction to rising cases of complaints against some Chinese-owned firms, especially in the construction sector.

Trends show growing cases of misconduct in Chinese construction firms that range from sexual assault and harassment to general assault and failure to ensure health as well as wellness standards in workplaces.

Since 2019, at least six cases, two of them involving sexual harassment, three bordering on general assault and one due to non-compliance to health and safety requirements have been recorded.

In an interview last week, HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence asked the Ministry of Labour to address the situation by making mandatory a clause on labour-related workers’ protection in the award of contracts.

He said: “Many types of reported and unreported human rights violations are taking place, especially in the construction sector. We urge the Ministry of Labour to address this by including specific labour-related workers protection clauses when contracting firms.

“We are calling for stiff penalties to such contractors abusing their workers in any form.”

On his part, MCTU general secretary Madalitso Njolomole said the solution lies in vigorous inspections of construction projects.

He said: “The Ministry of Labour must intensify inspections, sometimes by carrying out unannounced inspections. There is also need to engage employees and so that such abuses are minimised.”

Malawi Government and the Chinese Embassy have since decried the situation and called for concerted efforts to ensure that workplaces are safe and that those involved face the law.

In a written response to The Nation questionnaire, the Chinese Embassy said on Wednesday they are engaging Chinese companies on disciplinary issues.

Reads the embassy’s response: “As Chinese Embassy, we have known the situation and we have ordered the Chinese enterprises to strengthen their internal management and engage their employees to avoid similar things to happen.

“At the moment, all issues have been resolved and we respect the legal system of Malawi. The Chinese companies play a very important role in China-Malawi relations and also the economic and trade relations.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo said Malawi will continue to engage China as government cannot condone its people being abused.

Sexual and labour-related abuses involving Chinese firms in the construction sector have since been costly to Malawi. In August 2019, the World Bank suspended works on a K14 billion road project in Chikwawa District after some workers implicated the contractor, China Railway No.5 Engineering Group Corporation, in claims of contractual breaches bordering on sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

In May this year, the African Development Bank suspended disburwsement of funds for the Nkhata Bay Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project after the same contractor, hired by Northern Region Water Board, failed to comply with health and safety requirements. The laxity led to the death of a young boy at the project’s Chilambwe site.

Other cases against Chinese construction firms doing construction have been reported in Dedza, Mzuzu, and Karonga.