Malawi at war with climate disasters—Chakwera

President Lazarus Chakwera has said Malawi is at war with Cyclone Freddy impacts which are far from over as the country needs an additional K700 billion for recovery and reconstruction alone.

The President also disclosed that experts now estimate that damage and losses caused by the cyclone exceed $500 million (about K518 billion), adding that despite Treasury releasing K1.6 billion for emergency relief, there is a shortfall of K107.3 million to address the humanitarian needs of those affected till mid- June.

He was speaking in Lilongwe yesterday when he presided over Labour Day commemorations held at Masintha Ground under the theme ‘Natural Disasters a Threat to Livelihoods and Decent Work: Creating Decent Jobs and Extending Social Protection is Key to Sustainable Recovery”.

Chakwera said natural disasters are not a possibility to the country, but a certainty and a present continuous reality inflicting suffering on thousands of Malawians.

He said: “We cannot afford to respond to the effects of natural disasters on workers as if we are a nation under threat.

“The only response that is appropriate is that of a nation under attack. We are under such heavy attack that we need reinforcements from other nations in order to not only mobilise the K107.3 million needed to respond to the humanitarian crisis at hand and the K700 billion needed to adequately recover and reconstruct what has been lost.”

The President added that in economic terms, Cyclone Freddy alone has sunk more workers into unemployment and poverty, increased food insecurity and malnutrition, and reduced Malawians’ access to health, education, utility, transport, and sanitation services.

He stressed that the country needs to prepare for and mitigate against future disasters by, among others, being aggressive with adaptation and mitigation solutions such as the enforcement of the new disaster management legislation.

C omme n t i n g o n the plight of workers, Chakwera observed that the rights of many workers were already under duress before the natural disasters came, particularly for those in the informal economy.

He called for the implementation of policies and programmes that address the challenges of youth employment, decent work environments, protection of workers’ rights and expanding social protection.

A m o n g o t h e r s , Chakwera directed the Minister of Labour to review the National Job Creation Strategy that was launched in March last year to see how it needs to be strengthened to reflect the realities of the post-disaster period.

On his part, Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) p r e s i d e n t Charles Kumchenga said the high cost of living is biting workers hard which necessiates adjustment of the minimum wage.

He said: “Government needs to help in reducing prices of commodities. We also have a lot of nurses and teachers yet to be employed.

“People are being fired from workplaces willy-nilly, and some employers are still not paying people their pension money.”

Ta k ing her t u r n , United Nations resident coordinator Rebecca Adda- Dontoh commended the government for prioritising economic development, jobs and wealth creation.

She pointed out that quality employment helps reduce inequalities and decent jobs allow people to live a life of dignity.

“We should, therefore, create opportunities for everyone to get work that is productive and delivers a fair income, rights at work, social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration,” said Adda-Dontoh.

This year’s May Day commemoration started with a march in which Chakwera and Vice- President Saulos Chilima participated from Lilongwe Town Hall in Old Town to the venue.

During the event, some companies were awarded in different categories for their outstanding work. The companies included Ison Experience which scooped the labour compliance category, the industrial relations and employee engagement recogni t ion went to Tobacco Commission; Nico Holdings got a human resource development award while Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) Farmers Trust was recognised for its efforts against child labour.

NBS Bank scooped an award in the gender equity category while the quality productivity and innovation award went to Standard Bank Malawi.

The overall winner,Illovo Sugar Malawi, was recognised for performing exceptionally well in corporate social responsibility, youth employment and skills development ,essential occupation safety and health.

The company also emerged as Employer of the Year.