Dialogue on Employment Promotion in Malawi

On 18th April 2018, the Ministry Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) hosted a breakfast consultative meeting with key stakeholders in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The objective of the meeting was to facilitate national dialogue on employment promotion in Malawi and jump start the rolling out of the National Employment and Labour Policy. A team of experts from ILO covering Employment Policy, Employment-intensive Investment Programme, Skills Development and Sustainable Enterprises provided technical inputs to the discussions.

The meeting drew participants from government ministries led by the Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development, private sector companies led by Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM), workers led by the Malawi Congress of Trade Union, UN Agencies led by the UN Resident Coordinator, development partners such as GIZ, World Bank, European Union, US Embassy, DFID and the Irish Aid.

The meeting was officiated by the Hon. Francis Kasaila, Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development.

The meeting was also attended by a number of dignitaries including, Excellencies Mr. Jürgen T. Borsch, Ms. Kae Yanagisawa and Mr. Marchel Gerrmann ambassadors of Germany, Japan and European Union respectively.

The meeting started with speeches from a number of dignitaries. Key issues highlighted by presenters included:

“A government that puts issues of employment creation first, is our dearest friend and a true development partner” by Mr Denis Kalekeni from MCTU. He voiced the concern about high levels of poverty among workers in informal economy, which constitute about 89% of the total labour force in Malawi, and called for urgent actions on putting appropriate measures to formally recognize/certify the skills of informal economy workers to enhance their employability and facilitate their transitions to formal labour market.

“We would like to reiterate that an improved inter-ministerial coordination will improve implementation of the National Employment and Labour Policy” by Mr Beyani Munthali from ECAM.

The UN resident Coordinator, Maria Torres, emphasized the need to ensure that development policies and programmes are inclusive and that no one is left behind through a deliberate adoption of a bottom up and sustainable development approach.

“The National Employment and Labour Policy (NELP) has been approved, it is now time for action!” The Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development, Hon. Francis Kasaila. The Minister also emphasized the need to put employment creation as at the center of development activities in all sectors and that all stakeholders have a role to play in the implementation of the Policy.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Labour presented a brief summary of the NELP and outlined the objective of the plan and the ten priority areas as well as the strategies to be used in realizing these priorities. A presentation was made by the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Mr Wafwile Musukwa.

This was followed by presentations by the ILO experts on global good practices relating to Employment Policy, Employment intensive investment approach, Skills and Enterprise Development. A meeting was then opened for discussion on the implementation of NELP and the approaches recommended by the ILO team by way of maximizing employment in job-rich sectors, particularly agriculture and infrastructure.

The following are some of the issues raised during the discussion, which are centered on practical measures that are meant to facilitate the successful implementation of the policy:
1) establishment and operationalization of the National Employment Committee;
2) advocacy for pro-employment budgeting tools;
3) mainstreaming pro-employment investment approach in the delivery of rural and urban public works;
4) linking skills development with labour market demands, strengthening capacity to include work-based learning in the TVET system and establishing a strategy for recognition of skills gained informally or non- formally;
5) strengthening coordination among ministries;
6) revamping and launching the Tripartite Labour Advisory Council to strengthen social dialogue on employment issues, and
7) ensuring adequate funding for employment promotion activities as a policy and programmatic issue.

The ILO pledged technical support towards the implementation of the NELP with the aim of achieving Decent Work for All!