United States Cannabis Association in Malawi threaten industrial action over unpaid 7 month pay

Workers at United States Cannabis Association (USCA) say they want to hold a sit in to force management pay them seventh month salary arrears.

In a letter to the (USCA) Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer  Wezzie Ngalamira, the workers say they haven’t been paid from January to July this year and that Management hasn’t made any communication as regards to salary payment.

The workers also allege that they tried to engage the Management on the issue but the CEO dismissed the meeting describing it as illegal saying the workers are not employees of USCA as they were only on probation.

They have since demanded that their Seven months salaries be paid immediately, threatening to seek external help if that is not done.

They have also dismissed the claims by CEO that they were only on probation, saying they were offered employment letters and there was no indication of probation in the letters. They add that, even if that is the case, they should still be paid as being on probation does not mean working for free.

But Wezzie Ngalamira, the USCA Chief Executive Officer has blamed the workers for rushing to the media before presenting their concerns to the Company’s secretary, Paul Maulidi, who is also the Chairman of the Board.

“Yes, USCA Ltd failed to fulfill some of its responsibilities as a result of unforeseen circumstances, which caused some workers leave the system. This doesn’t mean we cannot resolve the issues inhouse, if they feel going to the media is a solution then they are making a big mistake, we do not wash dirty-linen in public. As employees they should respect the authority, we cannot solve the problem through Media, we can only solve it inhouse, “said Ngalamira.

According to Ngalamira, the company’s secretary requested all the concerned employees to furnish Management with supporting documents so that payment should be effected and resolve the issue inhouse, which they are yet to do, and instead have decided to go public.

The United States Cannabis Association Limited-USCA LTD is a private corporation that encourages Cannabis farming in Malawi through its Agri-Zyda farms. The company is an off-taker which buys both Medicinal and industrial Cannabis products.