Malawi’s Tobacco Sector (ADDRESS) project hosts the Royal Norwegian Ambassador
The Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi and Zambia visits the ILO ADDRESS Project in Lilongwe-Traditional Authority Chadza
On 12 July, 2023, the ILO's Addressing Decent Work Deficits and Improving Access to Rights in Malawi’s Tobacco Sector (ADDRESS) project hosted the Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi and Zambia Ms. Ingrid Marie Mikelsen together with the Minister of Labour, Honourable Ms. Agnes Nyalonje Member of Parliament, President of the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) -Mr. Charles Kumchenga, and Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM) Executive Director Mr. George Khaki in Lilongwe during a district level commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) held under the theme: ‘Social justice for all! End Child Labour’
12 July 2023
This was in line with the strategic priorities of the development cooperation between Norway and Malawi, which include a focus on the agricultural sector particularly, tobacco and respect for human rights, as well as with Norway’s global development cooperation priorities regarding the elimination of modern slavery and child labour.
The visit, which took place on 12 July 2023 and brought together high-level participation from the government, employers, workers, community leaders and children, where the ambassador interacted with the social dialogue committees established under the ADDRESS project and participated in a district level commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) open event, held under the theme: ‘Social justice for all! End Child Labour’.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Mikelsen expressed satisfaction over the partnership between the Norwegian Government and the ILO, and the Malawian Government in the fight against child labour and elimination of modern slavery within the tobacco sector, stating that her Government is committed towards supporting the workers, and employers’ organisations, as well as the Malawian Government to address decent work deficits and elimination of child labour.
The ADDRESS project through the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) has established and trained 16 social dialogue structures in the agricultural sector – mainly tobacco sub-sector in the four project districts of Mzimba, Kasungu, Mchinji and Lilongwe to address decent work deficits in the tobacco sector.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Ms. Nyalonje admitted that child labour is still prevalent and commended stakeholders such as schools, traditional leaders, district councils for their efforts in the fight against the vice. She has since commended the Norwegian Government for providing financial support to the ADDRESS project and the community from TA Chadza for demonstrating actions that are protecting children and promoting decent work.
The MCTU) President Mr. Kumchenga commended the Royal Norwegian Embassy for supporting the ADDRESs project, stating that it has brought change to the communities where the project is being implemented. His sentiments were echoed by ECAM Executive Director Mr. Khaki who hailed the strong partnership which exist between the ILO and the employers’ organisation, stating that the project has not only changed the mindset of employers towards decent work, but also trained them on best practices. He also commended the Government for abolishing Tenancy Labour which was fuelling child labour in the country.
The Social Dialogue Committee Chairperson Ms. Florence Manda revealed that the committee has successfully withdrawn children from child labour activities, as well as addressed grievances between workers and employers centred on poor working conditions, non-payment of salaries and child labour.
Ms. Manda added that the committee has also established an emergency fund to support children withdrawn from child labour activities, the fund has so far raised Mk2,1million an equivalent of $2,000 towards the course
The four-year ADDRESS project valued at almost USD 2 million, is implemented to effectively support the Government of Malawi, employers, and workers’ organizations in the country to effectively identify and address labour issues in the tobacco sector and ensure access to fundamental principles and rights at work as means to improve livelihoods, income, and food security. The project is implemented through social partners that include, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), Employers' Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), TAMA farmers trust, Tobacco and Allied Workers Union (TOAWUM) and local Non-Governmental Organisations such as; Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE), Good Health and Community in Development Action (COIDA).
This was in line with the strategic priorities of the development cooperation between Norway and Malawi, which include a focus on the agricultural sector particularly, tobacco and respect for human rights, as well as with Norway’s global development cooperation priorities regarding the elimination of modern slavery and child labour.
The visit, which took place on 12 July 2023 and brought together high-level participation from the government, employers, workers, community leaders and children, where the ambassador interacted with the social dialogue committees established under the ADDRESS project and participated in a district level commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) open event, held under the theme: ‘Social justice for all! End Child Labour’.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Mikelsen expressed satisfaction over the partnership between the Norwegian Government and the ILO, and the Malawian Government in the fight against child labour and elimination of modern slavery within the tobacco sector, stating that her Government is committed towards supporting the workers, and employers’ organisations, as well as the Malawian Government to address decent work deficits and elimination of child labour.
The ADDRESS project through the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) has established and trained 16 social dialogue structures in the agricultural sector – mainly tobacco sub-sector in the four project districts of Mzimba, Kasungu, Mchinji and Lilongwe to address decent work deficits in the tobacco sector.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Ms. Nyalonje admitted that child labour is still prevalent and commended stakeholders such as schools, traditional leaders, district councils for their efforts in the fight against the vice. She has since commended the Norwegian Government for providing financial support to the ADDRESS project and the community from TA Chadza for demonstrating actions that are protecting children and promoting decent work.
The MCTU) President Mr. Kumchenga commended the Royal Norwegian Embassy for supporting the ADDRESs project, stating that it has brought change to the communities where the project is being implemented. His sentiments were echoed by
ECAM Executive Director Mr. Khaki who hailed the strong partnership which exist between the ILO and the employers’ organisation, stating that the project has not only changed the mindset of employers towards decent work, but also trained them on best practices.
He also commended the Government for abolishing Tenancy Labour which was fuelling child labour in the country.
The Social Dialogue Committee Chairperson Ms. Florence Manda revealed that the committee has successfully withdrawn children from child labour activities, as well as addressed grievances between workers and employers centred on poor working conditions, non-payment of salaries and child labour.
Ms. Manda added that the committee has also established an emergency fund to support children withdrawn from child labour activities, the fund has so far raised Mk2,1million an equivalent of $2,000 towards the course.
The four-year ADDRESS project valued at almost USD 2 million, is implemented to effectively support the Government of Malawi, employers, and workers’ organizations in the country to effectively identify and address labour issues in the tobacco sector and ensure access to fundamental principles and rights at work as means to improve livelihoods, income, and food security. The project is implemented through social partners that include, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), Employers' Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), TAMA farmers trust, Tobacco and Allied Workers Union (TOAWUM) and local Non-Governmental Organisations such as; Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE), Good Health and Community in Development Action (COIDA).
The visit, which took place on 12 July 2023 and brought together high-level participation from the government, employers, workers, community leaders and children, where the ambassador interacted with the social dialogue committees established under the ADDRESS project and participated in a district level commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) open event, held under the theme: ‘Social justice for all! End Child Labour’.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Mikelsen expressed satisfaction over the partnership between the Norwegian Government and the ILO, and the Malawian Government in the fight against child labour and elimination of modern slavery within the tobacco sector, stating that her Government is committed towards supporting the workers, and employers’ organisations, as well as the Malawian Government to address decent work deficits and elimination of child labour.
‘’It is important for us to know the agricultural sector in Malawi and the general workspace function without using children as sources of labour’’, she said. “The social dialogue committee provides an opportunity for labour unions to effectively engage in dialogue with the employers and government and ensure that they have a strong voice in processes that are of direct interest and relevance to their members, including by supporting the improvement and enforcement of national legislation on labour issues, decent work and fundamental principles and rights at work in the agricultural sector”.
The ADDRESS project through the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) has established and trained 16 social dialogue structures in the agricultural sector – mainly tobacco sub-sector in the four project districts of Mzimba, Kasungu, Mchinji and Lilongwe to address decent work deficits in the tobacco sector.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Ms. Nyalonje admitted that child labour is still prevalent and commended stakeholders such as schools, traditional leaders, district councils for their efforts in the fight against the vice. She has since commended the Norwegian Government for providing financial support to the ADDRESS project and the community from TA Chadza for demonstrating actions that are protecting children and promoting decent work.
The MCTU) President Mr. Kumchenga commended the Royal Norwegian Embassy for supporting the ADDRESs project, stating that it has brought change to the communities where the project is being implemented. His sentiments were echoed by ECAM Executive Director Mr. Khaki who hailed the strong partnership which exist between the ILO and the employers’ organisation, stating that the project has not only changed the mindset of employers towards decent work, but also trained them on best practices. He also commended the Government for abolishing Tenancy Labour which was fuelling child labour in the country.
The Social Dialogue Committee Chairperson Ms. Florence Manda revealed that the committee has successfully withdrawn children from child labour activities, as well as addressed grievances between workers and employers centred on poor working conditions, non-payment of salaries and child labour.
Ms. Manda added that the committee has also established an emergency fund to support children withdrawn from child labour activities, the fund has so far raised Mk2,1million an equivalent of $2,000 towards the course
The four-year ADDRESS project valued at almost USD 2 million, is implemented to effectively support the Government of Malawi, employers, and workers’ organizations in the country to effectively identify and address labour issues in the tobacco sector and ensure access to fundamental principles and rights at work as means to improve livelihoods, income, and food security. The project is implemented through social partners that include, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), Employers' Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), TAMA farmers trust, Tobacco and Allied Workers Union (TOAWUM) and local Non-Governmental Organisations such as; Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE), Good Health and Community in Development Action (COIDA).
This was in line with the strategic priorities of the development cooperation between Norway and Malawi, which include a focus on the agricultural sector particularly, tobacco and respect for human rights, as well as with Norway’s global development cooperation priorities regarding the elimination of modern slavery and child labour.
The visit, which took place on 12 July 2023 and brought together high-level participation from the government, employers, workers, community leaders and children, where the ambassador interacted with the social dialogue committees established under the ADDRESS project and participated in a district level commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) open event, held under the theme: ‘Social justice for all! End Child Labour’.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Mikelsen expressed satisfaction over the partnership between the Norwegian Government and the ILO, and the Malawian Government in the fight against child labour and elimination of modern slavery within the tobacco sector, stating that her Government is committed towards supporting the workers, and employers’ organisations, as well as the Malawian Government to address decent work deficits and elimination of child labour.
‘’It is important for us to know the agricultural sector in Malawi and the general workspace function without using children as sources of labour’’, she said. “The social dialogue committee provides an opportunity for labour unions to effectively engage in dialogue with the employers and government and ensure that they have a strong voice in processes that are of direct interest and relevance to their members, including by supporting the improvement and enforcement of national legislation on labour issues, decent work and fundamental principles and rights at work in the agricultural sector”.
The ADDRESS project through the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) has established and trained 16 social dialogue structures in the agricultural sector – mainly tobacco sub-sector in the four project districts of Mzimba, Kasungu, Mchinji and Lilongwe to address decent work deficits in the tobacco sector.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour, Ms. Nyalonje admitted that child labour is still prevalent and commended stakeholders such as schools, traditional leaders, district councils for their efforts in the fight against the vice. She has since commended the Norwegian Government for providing financial support to the ADDRESS project and the community from TA Chadza for demonstrating actions that are protecting children and promoting decent work.
The MCTU) President Mr. Kumchenga commended the Royal Norwegian Embassy for supporting the ADDRESs project, stating that it has brought change to the communities where the project is being implemented. His sentiments were echoed by
ECAM Executive Director Mr. Khaki who hailed the strong partnership which exist between the ILO and the employers’ organisation, stating that the project has not only changed the mindset of employers towards decent work, but also trained them on best practices.
He also commended the Government for abolishing Tenancy Labour which was fuelling child labour in the country.
The Social Dialogue Committee Chairperson Ms. Florence Manda revealed that the committee has successfully withdrawn children from child labour activities, as well as addressed grievances between workers and employers centred on poor working conditions, non-payment of salaries and child labour.
Ms. Manda added that the committee has also established an emergency fund to support children withdrawn from child labour activities, the fund has so far raised Mk2,1million an equivalent of $2,000 towards the course.
The four-year ADDRESS project valued at almost USD 2 million, is implemented to effectively support the Government of Malawi, employers, and workers’ organizations in the country to effectively identify and address labour issues in the tobacco sector and ensure access to fundamental principles and rights at work as means to improve livelihoods, income, and food security. The project is implemented through social partners that include, Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), Employers' Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), TAMA farmers trust, Tobacco and Allied Workers Union (TOAWUM) and local Non-Governmental Organisations such as; Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE), Good Health and Community in Development Action (COIDA).