Football Players Association (FPA) yesterday commemorated Labour Day with a call for football administrators to respect labour laws of the country by ensuring no player gets less than the minimum wage.
The association’s general secretary Ernest Mangani in an interview said their survey findings revealed that some clubs are paying players as low as K50 000 per month which is less than the minimum wage of K90 000.
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He said: “It’s pathetic. Players are being exploited by clubs. Their contracts are very bad, yet such teams are being licensed to play in the top-flight league.
“Are we encouraging exploitative employment? And when FAM [Football Association of Malawi] and Sulom [Super League of Malawi]see that, what is their reaction?
“And these chaps because of umphawi and ignorance, just sign these contracts since they are desperate.”
Mangani said as the country celebrated Labour Day yesterday, they wanted to remind FAM, Sulom and Super League clubs that players also have rights.
He said: “The World Labour Day should remind us of the significance of player’s unions in promoting fair labour practices and occupational health and safety in the sport. Some examples of areas that the sport is continually exploiting players include poor monthly salaries. Some are below government minimum wages and exploitative contracts.
“Contracts do not meet the minimum standards of Fifa. No medical insurances. Players and their families suffer when they are injured. No pension. Once a player retires they do not have any source of income. Oppressive conduct by team managers.”
According to FPA, players are gagged and have no voice when it comes to labour issues.
Said Mangani: “When a player speaks about poor working conditions, they are punished by being denied game time.”
