CEOs TO EMBRACE SOCIAL DIALOGUE AT ENTERPRISE LEVEL

On Monday 29^th November 2021, Honourable Minister of Labour Vera Kamtukule then the Deputy Minister of Labour attended the Employers’ Consultative Association of Malawi-ECAM Business Breakfast Meeting for Business Executives and Captains of Member Companies at Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe.

The breakfast meeting had sessions that highlighted the recent amendments of the Employment Act and Labour Relations Act; the establishment of the Workers Compensation Fund and a Keynote speech on the World of Business Post-Covid-19.

In her speech the Hon. Minister said the recent amendments to the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Act had brought so many misunderstandings in the world of work, especially the Labour Relations Act as most stakeholders only picked one agenda item out of all the amendments.

“Social Dialogue holds the key to the enactment and implementation of labour and employment laws. This is why we are here today to understand the genesis and processes that went into the revision of the recently amended laws” said Hon. Kamtukule.Hon. Kamtukule said government recognizes the significance of the CEOs forum which brings together Government and industry captains to discuss pertinent issues in the world of work.

The Hon. Deputy Minister urged the CEOs to understand the processes and the importance of the laws that were amended but most importantly to ensure that their organizations harness their Human Resources in a manner that will promote industrial peace which is a requisite for productivity, sustainability and national development.

In his part the keynote speaker who is the Special Advisor from Dutch Employers’ Cooperation Programme-DECP Jannes van der Velde said a good start is to make sure to comply with ILO Conventions and Recommendations. And even better to do this in close consultation with representatives of recognized trade unions.

In her remarks ECAM Board Chairperson Zandile Shaba said it is critical to ensure a better understanding and smooth implementation of the amendments and to ensure compliance by all employers both public and private.

“We are all aware of the debate and animosity especially towards the “No Work No pay” provisions introduced in the Labour Relations Act. It is in our interest to understand this concept and how to manage our workforces so that we do not alienate them: they fear as employers we will use this provision to trample on their rights. Our enterprises whether private or public are dependent on employees. We will have to take the art of employee relations to a higher level,” said Shaba.

Other dignitaries in attendance were the Labour Commissioner H. K. K. Nyangulu, Deputy Labour Commissioner Wafwile Msukwa, ECAM Board Trustees Patrick Lisilira and Grant Mwenechanya, ECAM Former President Buxton Kayuni, Council Member Orphan Mapopa Chirwa and the Executives from the following companies  National Food Reserve Agency, Malawi Blood Transfusion, National Bank of Malawi, TAMA Trust, Blantyre Sports Club, Blantyre Adventist Hospital, Stephanos Foundation, Malawi Scotland Partnership, Project Innovation Centre, Banja la Mtsogolo, SeedCo Limited and Institute of People Management Malawi.