Maravi

(NYASATIMES) Malawi increase minimum wage rate over 100 percent

Malawi increase minimum wage rate over 100 percent
By Malawi News Agency
July 27, 2012

Domestic workers should now smile as government has stipulated that their daily rate of payment should no longer be K178.25 but K317. The District Labour Officer for Blantyre, Frank Adini disclosed that the law on the new daily pay has already been gazetted. “With effect from July 1, 2012, the minimum wage is K317 per day,” said Adini.

He said the decision was made by a forum comprising representatives from trade unions, employer organizations, Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA) and Ministry of Labour.

Adini: Minimum wage up

“You need to manage an employee. Those who cannot afford to pay their domestic worker the rate of K317 per day should not dare to engage one, because it is now considered as a crime not to do so.

“Paying a domestic worker less than what government has set up is a violation of their rights and you could be sued, “said Adini.

A renowned private recruitment and training organization of domestic workers in Blantyre, Seka Agency said in a separate interview that this would not affect business as most of its clients were already paying their graduates a minimum of K7,000 per month.

“Eight thousand two hundred forty two Kwacha is not far from K8, 242. Our clients will understand the economic situation,” said Rose Sekanawo Tambala who is the owner of Seka Agency.

The Employment Act empowers the Minister of Labour to revise the minimum wage for domestic workers after consultations with stake holders.

Labels: MINIMUM WAGE

posted by MrK @ 4:00 PM