Malawi govt to introduce anti-strike laws: Minister Mussa says ‘osagwira ntchito asadye’
Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development, Henry Mussa has said government want new legislation that bans strikes that are illegal.
Mussa disclosed this during the parliament meeting in Lilongwe on Tuesday.
He said the deliberations were underway with stakeholders to have the employment Act amended so that workers who do not follow the laid down procedure for industrial action should ‘pay for it’.
“There are procedures that make a sit-in or strike legal and not all the strikes or sit-ins we have follow the procedure. So we are saying it’s high time we applied the doctrine of ‘those who do not work should not eat – osagwira ntchito asadye’,” said Mussa.
He continued: “This will mean that you sit-in quite alright but at the end of the month you will not be paid for the days you skipped work – that is the law we are trying to introduce in this chamber.”
According to Mussa the majority of stakeholders consulted in the amendment of the employment act are in support of the law.
Commenting on the current sit-in of teachers in the country, the Minister said it was not illegal if they had followed the procedure for staging such action.
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Where did you get your doctorate Dr.Tonde? Do you mean that we are back in the era of Hastings Banda whereby,Malawians for 32 years had no rights of everthing. Malawians are entitled to strike if their demands are not met.These are human beings,they have families to take care of as you do.In the wake of economic down-spiral which shows no sign of improvement,workers have no other alternative in a real democratic country other than stand for their rights.Even Dausi himself,if he was in similar quandary,he would have similar feelings.So Dr.Tonde,leave the wretched workers to go to the streets to protest… Read more »
Winstone Msowoya, all those countries that implemented no work no pay including RSA, Germany and the UK are far more vibrant democracies than Malawi. Lets take that it was a company, if it closes for 3 months due to a strike where would the company get the money to pay the staff? Just because it is government basi anthu adzipita ku indefinite paid strike zoona? Change the law. Rights without responsibility hasn’t served Malawi well!!!!
Stp impossin laws that works fr u wen u r failn to gvn.
Henry Mussa is right aphunzitsi anyanya ndi ma strikes. Please teachers slow down.
im not a lawyer but im wondering if this proposed legislation is legal. Will it not go against the constitution which allows peaceful industrial action – except for essential services (Health, Security, e.t.c) therefore making it invalid?
Nanga ogwila ntchito koma osalipidwa…adya chiani?
Mussa is absolutely right. This is the norm all over the world, You don’t get paid when you go on strike! Its as simple as that. if this law was available in Malawi those lazy chancol lecturers would have been back in the classroom by now! Those Chancol lecturers are crazy! how come their Polytechnic or KCN counterparts havent gone on strike? Some of the reasons for striking in Malawi are laughable! leave grant ndiyopitira ku strike?
Kodi dzikoli likupita kuti abale? Zoona munthu mukamuponda asalire? Nanunso aphunzitsi munkapinda ma figure kuti njoka ziwine zisankho, lerotu ndizimenezi……….
lamulo sitipangila chikuwawe anduna!!!!!!!!