WATERAID WARNS OF INCREASING CASES OF CHOLERA ACROSS THE SADC REGION
MCTU PUSHES FOR SALARY INCREMENT AMIDST RISE IN THE COST OF LIVING
By Jecina Chikwelete
The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) has advised government and all employers to increase salaries and wages for all employees for them to cope with the rise in the cost of living.
The call has come after the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) recently raised fuel pump prices, leading to a rise in the cost of goods and services.
Speaking with Timveni Online, MCTU president Charles Kumchenga said MCTU is aware that recently civil servants got a 12 salary increment, but recent economic trends and in particular 25% devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha and fuel price adjustments have eroded the impact of the salary increment on workers’ welfare.
Kumchenga has also called upon government and all employers to protect jobs as past experience shows that retrenchments without notice and consultations are common during a crisis.
According to Kumchenga, MCTU is also proposing a one hundred percent minimum wage increase with immediate effect.
In 2022 alone, the price of Petrol has been continuously revised from MWK895 to MWK1,999.
