Govt needs MK700b for Cyclone Freddy Victims
By Dalitso Samson…….
His Excellence President of the Republic of Malawi Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has disclosed that the Malawi Government will need a lot of money to mitigate the suffering of the Cyclone Freddy Victims.
The president was speaking in Lilongwe at Masintha ground during the labour day Commemoration which was held under the theme “Natural Disaster: A Threat to Livelihood and Decent Work: Creating decent jobs and extending social protection is key to sustainable recovery,” on the 1st May, 2023.
In his speach His Excellence said that he is worried because other people have lost their jobs due to Freddy hence MK 700 billion is required to replace all the damaged properties of which the money is not in the budget and the country doesn’t have the money.
“The Freddy crisis is not far, but we are saying it is here and has already damaged our properties. As such a lot of jobs have been affected. The employees and employers are not working which has lead into lack of jobs amongst people,” Chakwera Said
His Excellence has disclosed that he is engaging stakeholders to come and bail the out government out of hail.
He was reacting to concerns raised by Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) president, Charles Kumchenga who asked government to adjust upwards workers minimum wage to match the rising cost of living.
Kumchenga asked the government to mitigate the high cost of living, formalise the informal sector, extend the social protection and promote decent work, among others.
“I assure you that my government will engage all relevant stakeholders in finding solutions to these issues as a going concern.
“I am therefore directing the Minister of Labour to resurrect regular meetings of the Tripartite Labour Advisory Committee (TLAC) with immediate effect” said Chakwera.
Agnes Nyalonje the minister of Labour said problems of job are higher in the country because there is no dialogue between the workers and the government oh how to treat the workers.
Nyalonje continued to say that her ministry will build good relationship between superiors from the working places to make sure that workers are being protected.
In collaboration with the owners of companies and business, her ministry will teach the companies on the advantage of employing more people and giving the youth the chance of doing technical skills for self reliance.
