Government has cited human capital development as one of key element to realize the long-term development strategy, Malawi vision 2063, in a latest push to review some labour laws.
This has been stated as Ministry of Labour, under the European Union’s Zantchito skills for jobs programme has been conducting a series of consultative workshops on the review the Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act of 1997.
The review of the Act is been done in a quest to strengthen labour laws for improved decent work delivery in the country.
Agnes Nyalonje, Minister of Labour said that reviewing of the laws is critical as decent work is key to transforming the economy through modernized industries, professions, trades and work practices.
Meanwhile in an interview with MIJ Online Dickson Chakale, one of the workers at Ethno Company in Dwangwa has described the reviewing of the act as ‘timely’ in fostering decent work.
According to Chakale, the current legislation has a number of issues including on safety and health among others which will be addressed in the new proposed act.
So far, three workshops have been conducted in Mzuzu, Blantyre and Zomba.
The workshops aimed at seeking inputs, brought together delegates from Government ministries, Employer representative bodies, Employees representative bodies, OSH practitioners, public and private sector, MSMEs and the informal sector.
