In an effort to improve workplace standards and promote decent work, the Ministry of Labour has called on journalists to leverage their position and raise awareness on decent work and labour laws of Malawi.
This call was made during an integrated decent work awareness training for media personnel, organised by the Ministry of Labour with technical and financial support from the EU-funded Zantchito Skills for Jobs programme.
The training sessions took place on 3rd and 5th of September in Lilongwe and Blantyre respectively, under the theme “Empowering the Media to Promote Decent Jobs.” The aim was to equip media professionals with the necessary knowledge to report effectively, accurately, and responsibly on various provisions of Malawi’s labour laws, decent work and the Ministry of Labour’s mandate in promoting decent work.
Paul Kalilombe, Director of Administration at the Ministry of Labour, highlighted that Malawi has sufficient labour laws designed to protect the dignity of work and the rights of workers. “They provide the framework for fair wages, non-discrimination, freedom of association, and protection against exploitation.” He added, “Yet, many citizens remain unaware of these rights.”
He then urged reporters to report extensively on these issues with accuracy, empathy, and integrity. “Let your stories reflect the realities of both employers and employees. Let them inspire reform, dialogue, and action,” he said.
In agreement, Johanes Mandowa, an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) expert for the EU-funded Zantchito Skills for Jobs Programme, highlighted that this initiative supports the project’s efforts to bridge the awareness gap in the promotion of decent work. He further stated that a key barrier to achieving decent work in Malawi is the widespread lack of awareness among both employers and employees about labour standards and legislation, underscoring the initiative’s role in addressing this gap.
He concluded by urging the reporters to take responsibility in advancing the decent work agenda, contributing to the realisation of Malawi 2063’s developmental goals. “Your role in this initiative is vital for strengthening public understanding of labour laws and ensuring accurate reporting on these critical issues,” he asserted.
The training was an important milestone that enhanced collaboration between the media and Ministry of Labour thereby creating an opportunity for increased information dissemination amongst the generality of the workforce in various sectors of the Malawi economy. Among others, the reporters were given an overview of the Employment Act of 2000, the Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Act of 1997 and the Workers Compensation Act of 2000.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees in Blantyre, Brenda Mkosi from Malawi News Agency hailed the Ministry of Labour and the Zantchito Skills for Jobs Programme for organising such an insightful training. She emphasized the importance of the training in enhancing accurate information dissemination by journalists. “As media practitioners, we are committed to spreading the message, and we would like to appeal to the organisers to conduct additional training sessions, as we had a lot of content to absorb in just one day, which was not easy.”
