ECAM advocates for no pay to striking workers

ECAMA calls on government to table the Labour relations and the employment amendment bills without any further delay, writes Sylvia Laisan

The Employers Consultative Association of Malawi ( ECAMA), calls on government to table the  Labour relations and the employment amendment bills without any further delay.

According to the statement the body released on Wednesday, ECAMA’s president Buxton Kayuni says the body fully supports the removal of the right of an employer to pay a worker on strike, defining and gazetting of essential services and the abolition of the tenancy labour.

“ECAM urges government to proceed tabling the bill in parliament, minus the aspect of IRC panelist without any further delay”, said Kayuni.

On the other hand the body has expresses serious reservation on the removal of panelist at the IRC.

“ECAM is of the view that there are other various options that could have been considered and implemented such as recruitment of full time panelist, our body looks forward to further discussions with government on the use of panelist at the IRC”.

“ As social partner’s , the government should have consulted with the employers organization- ECAM and workers organization- Malawi Congress of Trade Union before tabling any further changes on the Labour bills’, said Kayuni.

Meanwhile, members of the Congress of Trade Union ( MCTU) have gathered outside parliament building in Lilongwe to protest the employment amendment bill and Labour relations amendment bill, citing that the striking period is seen as means of oppressing employees.

ECAM is the only recognized be employer’s body in Malawi under the Labour Act (196), and has promised to monitor the progress and continue to lobby and advocate for the best interest of employer’s in Malawi in particulars and for the development of the country in general.