Minister of Labour Peter Dimba says government is working on a minimum wage review which could be implemented by May 1 2025, a public holiday when workers celebrate International Labour Day.
The minister’s assertion comes a month after Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) lobbied for a 100 percent increase in the minimum wage currently pegged at K90 000.
Dimba’s sentiments also come in the aftermath of a meeting he held on Wednesday in Lilongwe with Truck Drivers Union of Malawi (Tdum) and Transporters Association of Malawi (TAM).
He said the meeting sought to ensure that there is a cordial employer-employee relationship.
Said Dimba: “I can confirm that my ministry had an engagement with Tdum and TAM. As a ministry it is not the first time meeting with them. The meeting was not about the minimum wage review.
“Suffice to say that the ministry is in the process of reviewing the minimum wage and we hope to have it published by the time we commemorate Labour Day on May 1 2025.”
Tdum vice-president Francis Mkandawire said they are pushing for uniform salaries for truck drivers, local or international.
He said the minimum wages for truckers are K184 000 and K234 000 for local and international respectively, but argued they want a uniform salary, starting from K500 000.
“We hope the meeting will bear fruit. We discussed working conditions and other labour issues. The minister assured that very soon, government will be reviewing the minimum wage.
“The transporters asked government to protect them as well so that if government gazettes the minimum wage, they should be comfortable paying drivers,” he said.
In a separate interview yesterday, TAM spokesperson Frank Banda said they are waiting for government to set minimum transport rates to respond to high inflation and increasing operating costs.
He said government transport rates are as low as K240 per tonne per kilometre while private sector rates stand at K120 or K100.
“How can we pay good salaries to our workers if we are operating on losses? Mind you, we employ different professionals, not only drivers,” said Banda.
MCT U p r e s i d e n t Charles Kumchenga hailed government’s move, saying they have not yet met as a Tripartite Labour Advisory Council on the matter.
However, he said MCTU will maintain its demands for a 100 percent minimum wage increase, including bargaining for a better pay for domestic workers.
The council comprises MCTU, Em p l o y e r s ’ Consultative Association of Malawi and the ministry.
In Febr uar y, MCTU proposed the upwa rd adjustment of minimum wage from K90 000 per month to not less than K180 000.
In a previous interview Kumchenga noted that the country’s cost of living has skyrocketed, putting low income earners at a disadvantage.
