Human rights watchdog – Malawi Human Rights Commission has rolled out a mission to root-out socioeconomic injustices.
This comes amidst growing reports of labor rights abuses and dubious land acquisition by foreign investors among other ills.
The violations have also included exploitation especially on the part of the work force working for foreign investors to the displeasure of the MHRC.
The commissions has since decided to conduct an audit on these forms of injustices.
Speaking to MIJ Online, MHRC Executive Director David Nungu said the commission has received many complaints on labour rights violations from local employees in foreign owned corporations across the country.
According to Nungu, there have been complaints of increasing cases of salary disparities among local and foreign employees of similar category with Malawian workers earning a lesser amount.
“The complaints have been discriminatory in nature between employees and companies. This is not with the provision of the law where it is stated that employees performing similar work must receive similar salary, ‘’ said Nungu.
He has since disclosed that the commission has also received complaints regarding improper importation of labour from outside the country, in categories which will not necessitate to have expatriates.
“The concern has been that work permits, it appear have been granted even without following proper procedures or disregard of the policies laid down; this has squeezed employment opportunities for the citizenry and it is questionable as to how this went about, ‘’ he indicated.
In addition, the commission has also embarked on an initiative aimed at investigating cases of illegal land acquisition in the country.
The country is registering a rise in cases of illegal land acquisition – with authorities such as Ministry of lands, Malawi Housing Corporation as well as councils and city assemblies allocating land to some foreign nationals the without adherence to proper procedures.
The human rights grouping has also expressed displeasure with the increase in cases in which foreigners are owning land in Malawi at the mercy of the locals.
According to the MHRC Executive Secretary, this is a worrisome development as in other countries it is not easy for Malawians to acquire land in these countries.
The commission has since called on Malawians to bring any evidence on these malpractices to their offices in order to assist with the investigations and come up with lasting solutions.