Following consultations with different social partners, the Ministry of Labour has revised minimum wages for various categories by 40 percent effective 1st June, 2025.
The development means that the minimum wage for domestic workers is now pegged at K72, 800.00 per month from K52, 000.00 per month.
For those in retail shop employment with an annual turnover of K500, 000,000.00, the workers will be carting home K150, 000 per month.
International drivers driving trucks 30 tonnes and above, their wage has been revised to K328, 300.00 per month from K234, 500, 00.
For local truck drivers driving 30 tonnes trucks and above, they will be receiving K234, 500.00 from K167, 500, 00.
Those driving trucks below 30 tonnes, their salary have been revised to K140, 700.00 from K100, 500.00.
Minister responsible for Labour Peter Dimba made the announcement during a press briefing in Lilongwe on Tuesday 13th May.
He said this was done in line with Section 54 of the Employment Act which empowers the Labour Minister to fix the minimum wages of any group of wage earners if the Minister is of the opinion that it is expedient to do so.
Among other factors, Dimba cited the needs of workers and their families, cost of living and the relative living standards, economic factors, levels of productivity and any effect the wage might have on employment.
He justified the move arguing this was done in consultation with organizations of workers and employers such as the Employers’ Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM) and the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU).
The Department of Economic Planning and Development undertook an independent assessment and prepared a position paper which was used as a reference document by Government.
He disclosed that ECAM proposed that Minimum Wage should be adjusted by 30 percent which is above the current inflation rate while MCTU proposed a 100 percent increase in all national minimum wages.
During the briefing Dimba indicated that minimum wage refers to the amount of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners for the work performed during a given period a day, a week or a month, which cannot be reduced by collective agreement or individual contract.
The Minister clarified that the main purpose of minimum wage is to protect workers against unjustly low wage.
“In other words, when minimum wage is set for any category of workers, employers are compelled not to pay a wage below the set minimum. For example, no employer will be allowed to pay a domestic worker less than the prescribed wage of K72, 800.00/month. Doing so is punishable by law”. cautioned Dimba
The Department of Economic Planning and Development undertook an independent assessment and prepared a position paper which was used as a reference document by Government.
He disclosed that ECAM proposed that Minimum Wage should be adjusted by 30 percent which is above the current inflation rate while MCTU proposed a 100 percent increase in all national minimum wages.
During the briefing Dimba indicated that minimum wage refers to the amount of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage earners for the work performed during a given period a day, a week or a month, which cannot be reduced by collective agreement or individual contract.
The Minister clarified that the main purpose of minimum wage is to protect workers against unjustly low wage.
“In other words, when minimum wage is set for any category of workers, employers are compelled not to pay a wage below the set minimum. For example, no employer will be allowed to pay a domestic worker less than the prescribed wage of K72, 800.00/month. Doing so is punishable by law”. cautioned Dimba
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