Labour report to boost market information—Goodall

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe said the 2013 Labour Force Survey report will help boost the labour market information and provide relevant information for evidence-based policies.

Speaking in Lilongwe during the launch of the report, Gondwe said wealth creation is through gainful employment and government is leaving no stone unturned in making sure that the labour force is potentially utilised.

“Malawi has not conducted a Labour Force Survey since 1983, as a result, the country has lacked relevant market information and it has been difficult to estimate the number of employed persons, their occupations and type of industry they work in, but with this [labour report], stakeholders will now have access to gender disaggregated labour statics paying particular attention to vulnerable groups such as women, youths, among others,” he said.

The survey which was commissioned by National Statistics Office (NSO) with the help from the African Development Bank shows that seven million people within the age of 15-64 years were in the labour with the majority of them working in agriculture, forestry, fishing and the informal employment set-up.

The report comes at a time when Sadc member States are being encouraged to provide up-to-date labour market information to enhance national socio-economic development as well as regional cooperation and integration.

Ministry of Labour Henry Mussa said the labour report, among others, will help investors, researchers and consultants make the right choice when investing in Malawi.