MCTU for decent workplace
The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) has urged government to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 190 ( C190) to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work.
Speaking at the official launch of a campaign for the ratification and domestication of the convention in Blantyre on Thursday, MCTU vice-president Kevin Chifunda said the absence of the convention affects workers’ productivity in the workplace, with the union registering 500 cases of violence and sexual harassment annually.
He said: “The convention, if ratified and domesticated, will support filling the gaps in the labour laws, which will be for the economic good of the country.
“We remain vigilant to decent work promotion, in line with Malawi 2063 agenda and the need to end modern day slavery in Malawi.”
C190 is the first international treaty to recognise the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence.
The convention was adopted in June 2019, by the International Labour Conference of the ILO, and came into force on 25 June 2021.
Governments that ratify C190 are required to put in place the necessary laws and policy measures to prevent and address violence and harassment in the world of work.
On his part, Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecama) executive director George Khaki emphasised the need for government to ratify the convention, which he said comes at a critical time when the world of work has changed a lot due to digitalisation.
He said: “We signed to the convention in 2019 as employers and not a delegation to the Malawi Government.
“When productivity goes down, workers will not give their utmost and issues of violence and sexual harassment can bring down businesses.”
Blantyre district labour officer Joseph Sambo said government is committed to having the convention ratified, adding that it already adopted the convention in May 2023.
“Government through Ministry of Labour moved to engage a consultant to do a gap analysis before the convention is ratified. We are still doing something to make sure we move in the right direction,” he said.
ILO is supporting Malawi in the ratification and domestication process of the convention. As at February 16 2024, 37 countries had ratified the convention.
