Workers at Karonga-based mining company Lotus Resources Africa Limited on Tuesday started an industrial sit-in over concerns on poor working conditions and overtime allowances.
The sit-in follows a letter written from the grieved workers dated May 22 2026 addressed to Lotus Resources Africa management in which they gave the company a three-day ultimatum to address alleged non-payment of overtime, risk and house allowances.
In an interview, one of the concerned workers who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the issues had been discussed on several occasions under the mediation of Karonga District
Labour Office and Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) but remained without satisfactory resolutions.
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“Despite previous engagements, the matter remains unresolved, causing financial hardships and low morale among employees. These allowances and overtime payments form part of the
agreed employment conditions and are essential to the welfare and motivation of workers,” said the source.
In a separate interview, Karonga district principal labour officer Peck Chawinga said his office once mediated over the issue but Lotus Resources Africa management decided to refer the matter to the company’s legal team for advice.
He said: “After noting that Lotus Resources Africa was allegedly violating labour relations Act in overtime allowances calculations, we wrote management, but they quickly referred the matter to their legal team.
“So, we are waiting for their legal team’s recommendations on the same.”
EAM Fighting Inequalities Through Improved Local and Mining Governance project coordinator Lusungu Mangochi said they have followed the issue through the District Labour Office where Lotus Resources Africa Limited was allegedly miscalculating overtime by 4.8 hours every month.
“Despite the company’s delay to resolve the impasse, we will engage concerned parties to reach a consensus,” she said.
Efforts to talk to Lotus Resources Africa management proved futile as they could not answer calls or WhatsApp messages
