ILO ADDRESS project partnered with the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU)
The Re-birth of the Trade Union in the Tobacco Sector in Malawi
The ILO ADDRESS project partnered with the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) in revitalizing the Tobacco and Allied Workers Union of Malawi (TOAWUM) in the tobacco sector, that has been inactive since or before 2019. The lack of a functional and active union in the sector left workers with no opportunity to enjoy the benefits of freedom of association and protection of their rights.
12 July 2023
The union has been inactive since or before 2019 that left workers in the sector without any representation to advance their rights. With the coming in of the ADDRESS project of the International Labour Organization (ILO) took an initiative and worked with the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) and The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco, and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) to revitalize the union and usher in new Leadership whose capacity is been built to ensure quality representation of workers’ interest.
The project supported the first ever congress of the trade unions which ushered in new leadership and has a high representation of female members which is at 60% . The Union is now active and is engaging workers and employers in the tobacco sector and raising awareness on the role of the union.
As one way of building the capacity of the trade union, MCTU with the support of the ILO trained 30 members as Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) and 80 Shop stewards with 50% equal representation of both men and women.
The Union has to date registered over 8,000 new members and it is expected that as the tobacco season starts more members will be recruited.
The increase in number of the Union will further strengthen its capacity to effectively engage in dialogue with employers and government.
TOAWUM representatives explained that it was difficult for unions to access and organize workers in the tobacco supply chain in Malawi to give effect to the full exercise of the right to freedom of association, due to employers’ resistance to the union’s efforts in accessing workers in big industries.
Mr Joseph Kankhwangwa of MCTU making a presentation during Training of Trainers on social dialogue for TOAUM members
The project supported the first ever congress of the trade unions which ushered in new leadership and has a high representation of female members which is at 60% . The Union is now active and is engaging workers and employers in the tobacco sector and raising awareness on the role of the union.
As one way of building the capacity of the trade union, MCTU with the support of the ILO trained 30 members as Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) and 80 Shop stewards with 50% equal representation of both men and women.
The Union has to date registered over 8,000 new members and it is expected that as the tobacco season starts more members will be recruited.
The increase in number of the Union will further strengthen its capacity to effectively engage in dialogue with employers and government.
“It is high time that we in the tobacco sector start recognizing the tobacco and Allied Workers union of Malawi (TOAWUM) and ensure they receive the support needed to further their union agenda” said TAMA farmers trust project Coordinator Mr Sam Kalimba in one of the Social Dialogue meetings held in Mponera
TOAWUM representatives explained that it was difficult for unions to access and organize workers in the tobacco supply chain in Malawi to give effect to the full exercise of the right to freedom of association, due to employers’ resistance to the union’s efforts in accessing workers in big industries.
The TOAUM General Secretary Mr. Cosmas Msamba thanked ILO for bringing back life to the dysfunctional tobacco union, he said he is happy that now the Union is back to life and ready to take and advance workers’ rights in the sector, “we have so far visited a number of workplaces and we expect to achieve more in our campaign to have more workers join the Union”.The Register of Union in the Ministry of Labour Mrs. Tiyanjane Butao encouraged the Union to do more and work on its bottlenecks and put its house in order to ensure the union is trusted by workers and employers in the sector.
Speaking during the Training of Trainers that aimed at empowering TOAUM to carry out its mandate effectively and be able to reach out to more workers and increase its membership, the Programmes Officer for the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) Mr Joseph Kankhwangwa said, “he wants to see TOAUM reach another level and be able to reach all workplaces in the tobacco sector, We will work together with TOAUM to achieve more… I am happy that already TOAUM has reached out to some workplaces within the shortest period after its revitalization.”
Mr Joseph Kankhwangwa of MCTU making a presentation during Training of Trainers on social dialogue for TOAUM members