Parliament expresses concern over working conditions for Malawians at Salima Sugar Company

Parliament’s Agriculture Committee officials on Friday left the newly opened multibillion kwacha Salima Sugar Company concerned with the poor working conditions of Malawian workers.

Most of the 100 Malawian workers had no working gear or had bad working clothing that could not protect them from the dangers of factories.

Chairman of the committee Joseph Chidanti Malunga said it was suroprising that even committee members were not provided with protective gear.

“As you can see, some workers are working nearly barefoot, they do not have protective gear, this is exposing them to danger,” he said.

Officials from the company however shifted the blame to the workers themeselves, saying the company provided each worker with a protective gear but most of them do not bring them at the work place.

President Peter Mutharika recently officially opened the company owned by Indians but commentators wonder if it will really bring real competition on the sugar market that can bring down the sugar prices.