MCTU WANTED K70,000 AS MINIMUM WAGE – Malawi News Online

Presenting the full 2019/20 National Budget, the Minister of Finance, Joseph Mwanamvekha, outlined how K1.7 trillion was going to be spent in the next financial year. Among other developments, the living wage was increased to K35,000 per month, translated from K962 per day to K1, 346 per day. However, the Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) told The Daily Times newspaper that what was initially proposed was K70,000 which was halved down to K35,000.

MCTU General Secretary, Denis Kalekeni, said the law empowers the minister to consult Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) and MCTU, which was done but the minister did not meet the requirements by both firms.

Economic experts and other development partners have described the 2019/20 National Budget as a ‘cautious’ financial plan. Prior to the official presentation, Mwanamvekha hinted that the 2019/20 National Budget will be a balanced fiscal plan that will sustain economic stability while bolstering growth rate.