Work conditions in Malawi

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

An employee’s normal working hours are set out in the employment contract. An employer may not require or permit any employee to work for more than 48 hours during a week, excluding overtime (with some exceptions, like in the case of guards). For employees, the daily hour limit is 12 hours for 5-day work week and eight hours for a six-day work week. A temporary exemption from normal working hour limits can be granted. In case of overtime, a worker must be compensated with compensatory rest (of at least equivalent hours) and premium pay for overtime hours.

Retirement Age

According to the Pension Act of 2010, the retirement age ranges between 50 (minimum) to 70 (maximum) years, with at least 20 years of service or contribution required.

Working Contracts

According to the Employment act n. 6 of 2000, employment contracts may be oral or in writing, expressed or implied. However, every employer shall give to each employee a written statement of particulars of employment (art. 27).
Working contracts can be for a specified or unspecified period of time, or for a specific task.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage per day is MWK 962 (around USD 1.3).

Average Wage

Gross average monthly nominal wage: MWK 27,541 (source: ILO, 2009)

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: Up to 10% for the National Pension Scheme (NPS)
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: An employer is allowed to deduct his or her contribution to an approved pension fund (the maximum contribution is 15% of the employee’s salary).

Social Partners

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

The Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of association which includes right to form and join trade unions. The Labour Relations Act 1996 prohibits discrimination on the ground of trade union membership or trade union activities, and a trade union membership (or lack of it) shall not be a condition for gaining or maintaining employment.
A collective agreement is binding upon the parties to the agreement. The terms of the collective agreement must be incorporated into the employment contract of each employee who is covered by such collective agreement.

Labour Unions

Malawi Congress of Trade Unions

Unionisation Rate

The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) is a federation of 20 trade unions and it has approximately 45,000 workers affiliated.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Labour