Employment of Young People Against the Law in Malawi
Get more information about child employment laws in Malawi at mywage.org. Children as young as ten are being employed in Malawi. This is against the Employment Act, but it is still happening.
By Sam Banda Jnr
The employment of young people in Malawi is creating several problems, and is against the law, reports Mywage Malawi. Some companies and estates employ very young boys and girls, and subject them to poor health conditions on the job. Young people are also failing to go to school, and are working instead.
In Malawi it is reported that young people from the age of ten are employed by tobacco estates in districts like Mzimba, Dedza and Mulanje. Many estates take advantage of their poverty and manipulate them.
Malawi’s Employment Act in Part Four – the employment of young persons section 21(1) - says that subject to subsection (2), no person under the age of fourteen shall be employed or work in any public or private agricultural, industrial or non-industrial undertaking or any branch thereof.
The section however says that this shall not apply to work done in homes, vocational technical schools or other training institutions.
According to the Act, the work done in technical schools and other training institutions should be approved and supervised by a public authority.
The Act further stresses that no person between the age of fourteen and eighteen years shall work or be employed in any occupation or activity that is likely to be harmful to the health, safety, education, morals or development of such a person.
The Act says that the minister may, in consultation with relevant organisations of employers and employees, specify, by notice published in the Gazette, occupations or activities which in his opinion, are likely to have the effect on the health of such persons.
Any person who contravenes any provision of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of 20,000 Malawi Kwacha (approximately $150) and to imprisonment for five years.
