MCTU, ILO Empower Union Leaders on GBV and Workplace Safety

The Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), has trained leaders from its 36 affiliates on addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in the workplace.

The three-day symposium held in Blantyre focused on ILO Convention 190, which aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work. Participants were also guided on how to include gender clauses in Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).

MCTU Secretary General Madalitso Njolomole said over 60% of complaints received since January were GBV-related, mainly from the agricultural sector. He attributed this to short-term and seasonal contracts, where women often face exploitation to secure jobs.

“Many women are forced to please employers to get contracts. This has led to rampant sexual harassment, especially in the agricultural sector,” Njolomole said.

He commended the ILO for supporting the training, describing it as a step toward creating safer and more respectful workplaces.

ILO National Project Coordinator Sibia Chirwa applauded Malawi’s commitment to addressing workplace GBV, despite not yet ratifying Convention 190. She noted President Lazarus Chakwera’s launch of the National Code of Conduct on Violence and Harassment on May 1, 2025, as a major milestone.

Chirwa also highlighted ILO’s support to the Ministry of Labour in updating inspection tools, training inspectors, and reviewing laws to align with C190 principles. She praised other stakeholders, such as the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM) and Tea Association of Malawi (TAML), for developing policies and training manuals to curb workplace violence.

MCTU has also developed its own Gender and Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy to promote equality across its affiliates.

The symposium was facilitated by ILO specialists David Dorkenoo and Ida Tsitsi Chimedza from the Pretoria office, with funding from the Norwegian Government under the “Promoting Workers’ Rights and Gender Equality in Africa” project.