By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, June 10, Mana: A situation analysis conducted by the European Union Funded Project-Zantchito revealed a serious knowledge gap among employees and employers in understanding various provisions of labour laws in Malawi.

Zantchito Project Occupational Safety and Health Expert, Johanes Mandowa said this in Blantyre on Tuesday during a Decent Work Awareness Campaign with workers at Bakhresa Malawi Limited.

"When we are talking about the promotion of decent work, one of the important pillars of decent work is social dialogue.

"So we expect employers and employees to be able to sit down. For them to be able to effectively sit down and iron out the differences that could be there, they need to be able to do that from a point of understanding and a point of knowledge as far as what is provided for in the various labour laws," he said.

The campaign saw Ministry of Labour officials equipping the employees at Bakhresa with knowledge on Employment Act, Industrial Relations as well as Occupation Safety and Welfare Act.

Director of Legal Services in the Ministry of Labour, Ofwa Alide, said the month of June is designated as 'Labour Awareness Month' to raise awareness on labour related laws in the workforce.

"Through this initiative, we hope to bridge the knowledge gap that is there, as far as the promotion of decent work is concerned. Knowledge is power and knowledge really induces self-compliance.

"So even after this exercise is done at the end of June, people can still walk in and out of our offices to find out about labour rights and will be able to assist them," she said.

Head of Human Resource and Compliance at Bakhresa, Richard Tchereko said the awareness  campaign has ensured that employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities.

"This will make the work of the human resource practitioners easy and also the company will enhance its production because there will not be misunderstanding and unnecessary complaints," said Tchereko.

The awareness campaign was held under the theme: 'promoting decent work: safeguarding workers freedom, equity, security and dignity' and similar activities were done in Mzuzu and Lilongwe.