Trade Unions
All about Trade Unions in Malawi, Joining a Trade Union in Malawi, Trade Unions and Jobs and Wages in Malawi and more on Mywage.com
What is a Trade Union?
A trade union is an organisation of workers that have come together to achieve common goals such as fighting for better working conditions and bargaining for salaries.
Current state of trade unions in Malawi
Chairperson of the Industrial Relations Court (IRC) Rachel Sikwese says trade unions have not been that vibrant in Malawi, according to research they have conducted. She sys that many have been silent and failed to fight for employees’ rights. She also notes that major committees that are set up by the Malawi government to comment on social and economic issues of national interest and advise the executive do not include trade union members in their programmes.
She also further says that despite having been granted the freedom to associate, to form and join trade unions, to form and join employers’ organisations and not to be discriminated against on account of trade union membership, there are very little trade union activities on the ground.
What is the current number of unionised workers in Malawi?
The Industrial Relations Court says there are only 200,000 unionised workers out of an estimated 5.5 million workers overall. The formal sector has a workforce of approximately 800,000. Of this, the public service comprises 120,000 workers.
Why such low trade union membership?
The Industrial Relations Court notes that weak trade unions and low membership have been linked to a number of factors including loss of faith in unionism, avoidance of union fees, poor leadership, financial constraints and the alliances some union leaders form.
Which is the mother body?
Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) is Malawi’s national trade union. It has a membership of 45,000. The body has over 22 afilliates according to information from MCTU. MCTU works with industries, plantations and Ecam (see below) to promote, unite and strengthen human rights standards and the social welfare of employees in the work place.
More information on trade unions
Employers in Malawi have also formed an organisation, the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) and it is styled as a key labour market institution for advocacy and policy positioning to bring forward common needs, views and positions of employers. It has 221 registered members.
There is also another organisation the Institute of People Management (IPM) which consists of human resource managers. It has similar objectives to Ecam.
With the biggest exports of Malawi being tobacco, tea and sugar, The Tobacco Tenants and Allied Workers Union of Malawi (TOTAWUM), the Plantation and Agriculture Workers Union, and the Sugar Plantation and Allied Workers Union all work to improve working, health and environmental conditions on farms and plantations. There are also unions in the state water department, agriculture, hotels, customs and the teaching profession.
How do workers contact a trade union?
Below is a list of MCTU affiliates and their contact details:
|
No |
Name of Union and Address |
General Secretary |
President |
Phone Number |
|
1 |
Building, Construction & Civil Engineering Workers Union, C/O MCTU, Box 5094, Limbe . E-mail: johnmwafulirwa@yahoo.com |
Mr John O Mwafulirwa Cell: 0888 146 186 |
Mr Cyrus Chirwa Cell: 0888 861 247 |
|
|
2 |
Civil Servants Trade Union, Private Bag B476, Lilongwe E-Mail: cstu@malawi.net, pekalichero@yahoo.co.uk |
Mr Pontius Kalichero Cell: 0888 873 745 |
Mr Mr Eliah Kamphinda Cell: 0888 872 299 |
01 751118/01 751103 |
|
3 |
Commercial Industrial and Allied Workers Union, C/O MCTU, Box 5094, Limbe. E-mail: mareydzinyemba@yahoo.com |
Ms Mary Dzinyemba Cell : 09 559 170 |
Mr Tryson Kalanda Cell: 0999 654 179 |
01 835 961 |
|
4 |
Communications Workers Union , Private Bag 186 Blantyre E-mail: cowuma@yahoo.co.uk, delezah@gmail.com |
Mr Robert Mkwezalamba Cell:0999 950 524/0888 871 871 Deputy: Mr H.Deleza: 0888878200 |
Mr Batwell Kulemero Cell: 0888 860 660 |
01 830 830
|
|
5 |
Electronic Media Workers Union, Box 30133, Chichiri, Blantyre 3 E-mail: mariekambeja@yahoo.co.uk |
Mrs Marie Kambeja Cell: 0888163636 |
Mr Augastine Lubani Cell: 0999 510 902 |
01 871 343/871 222 |
|
6 |
ESCOM Staff Union, Box 2047, Blantyre |
Mr Kondwani Kazembe Cell: 0999413490 |
Mr Oscar Chimwezi Cell: 0999 224 013 |
01 429006/007 |
|
7 |
Hotels Food Processing and Catering Services Union, P.O Box 1348, Blantyre, E-mail: hfpcwu@sdnp.org.mw,sesanisfj@yahoo.com |
Mr Shakespear Sesani Cell: 0999955709 |
Mr Harvey Chingondo Cell: 0999256133 |
01 820 314/01914758 /0999 718 936 |
|
8 |
Malawi Housing Cooperation Workers Union, P.O Box 414, Blantyre |
Mr Davies Chamasowa Cell: 0888 774 136 |
Mr Grey Sadiki 0999 495 058 |
01 876 822 |
|
9 |
Malawi Municipal Workers Union, P.O Box 1443, Lilongwe E-mail: phillchimbalu@yahoo.com, mamwu@malawi.net |
Mr Phillimon Chimbalu Cell: 0999 916 932/0888 643 501 |
Mr Haris Chaluluka Cell : 0999 600 984 |
|
|
10 |
Malawi Union for Informal Sector, P.O Box 2618, Blantyre |
Mr Mwanda Chiwambala Cell: 0999329366 |
Mr Ken Mhango Cell: 0888 573 595 |
|
|
11 |
National Organisation of Nurses & Midwives of Malawi P.O Box 30393,Lilongwe, E-mail: nanmzembe@yahoo.com, |
Mrs Dorothy Ngoma Cell: 0999 208 779/0888838964 |
|
01 771 204/771210 |
|
12 |
Plantation & Agriculture Workers Union, Nchima Tea Estate Box 181, Luchenza |
Mr Dennis Banda 0999 924 382 |
Mr Patrick Kadyanji Cell: 0999 385 845 |
01473 300
|
|
13 |
Private Schools Employees Union. E-mail: hendrixbanda@yahoo.com |
Mr Hendrix Banda Cell: 0999 355 100 |
Mr Isaac Zimba Cell:0888 760093 |
01 725270 |
|
14 |
Railways Workers Union, Box 5393, Limbe E-mail: cearwum@cearcdn.mw,lmambala@yahoo.co.uk |
Mr Lester Malango Cell: 0884 026 748 |
Mr Luther Mambala Cell: 08 201 022 |
01 840844 |
|
15 |
Shipping Customs & Clearing Agents Trade Union, P.O Box 40613, Kanengo, E-mail: ksonjo@sdvmalawi.com |
Mr Kawerama Sonjo Cell: 0999 951 094 |
Mr F.M.C. Khowoya Cell: 0999 209 536 |
01710 233 |
|
16 |
Sugar Plantation & Allied Workers Union, P.O Box 46, Dwangwa, E-mail: vkarim@illovo.co.za |
Mrs Veronica Karim Cell: 0999319884 |
Mr Samuel Ngamiza Cell: 0999416689 |
01 295 266 |
|
17 |
Teachers Union of Malawi, P/Bag 11, Lilongwe E-mail: tum@sdnp.org.mw |
Mr Dennis Kalekeni Cell : 0888 852 058/0999 100013 |
Mr Chauluka Muwake Cell: 0999 923 897 |
01 727 006/01727301/ 01 726 591 |
|
18 |
Textiles, Garments, Leather & Security Services Union, David Whitehead & Sons Ltd, Box 30070, Blantyre |
Mrs Grace Nyirenda Cell : 0888 345 576 Deputy –Chuma :0888 365 693 |
Mr Enock Gadama Cell: 0888 710 775 |
01 820 716
|
|
19 |
Tobacco Tenants Workers Union, Box 477 Nkhotakota.E-mail: totawum@malawi.net, raphaelsandramu@yahoo.com |
Mr Raphael Sandram Cell : 0888 310 818 |
Mr John Simiti Cell: 0999 164 821 |
01 292 288 |
|
20 |
Transport & General Workers Union, Box 2778 Blantyre. E-mail: ronaldmbewe2002@yahoo.com |
Mr Ronald Mbewe Cell: 0888 877 795 |
|
01 830219 |
|
21 |
University of Malawi Workers Union, P.O Box 280, Zomba |
Mr Dennis Kumkwawa Cell:0999 255 571 |
Mr David Bwanali Cell: 0888 331841 |
01524046 01975 132 (Mr A. Lipande)Vice President |
|
22 |
Water Employees Trade Union of Malawi, C/O Lilongwe Water Board, Box 96, Lilongwe . E-mail : kunjeolivia@crwb.org.mw |
Ms Olivia .Kunje Cell : 0888 877 817 |
Mr Prince Mudolo Cell: 0888 662 162 |
01 758 044 |
