Small-scale business owners and their employees in Rumphi District have undergone training in economic justice and decent work to promote fair employment practices, protect workers’ rights and improve workplace relations.
Rumphi District Council labour officer Lanwell Mkisi said this on Monday during a day-long training session organised by Rumphi Urban Young Women Hub with funding from Hewlett Foundation through ActionAid Malawi.
He said decent work requires mutual understanding, dialogue and respect between employers and employees, noting that both parties depend on each other to achieve their goals.
Mkisi urged employers and employees to sign employment contracts outlining their rights and responsibilities to minimise misunderstandings and provide a basis for resolving workplace disputes.
“The law does not allow employers to terminate employment without notice, just as employees should not leave their jobs without giving the required notice,” he said.
Mkisi warned that employers who fail to comply with minimum wage requirements could face legal consequences.
Rumphi Urban Young Women Hub chairperson Ester Mwanza said the training will help reduce workplace abuses by equipping employers and employees with knowledge of their rights and responsibilities.
One of the participants, Eliza Banda, a restaurant owner at Rumphi Boma, described the training as an eye-opener, saying she learnt about the government-set minimum wage.
Rumphi District Council gender officer Atupele Mwalweni urged business owners to provide equal employment opportunities to women and men.
