Malawi can do better on Industrial Relations Court

It is clear from reports coming from the Industrial Relations Court (IRC) that there is an urgent need for government to rescue the situation at the institution.

We are saying this because more than 2 400 cases in which workers are demanding justice from their employers is too much a figure that should not be condoned. It should jolt concerned authorities into action. After all, justice delayed is justice denied.

To make matters worse, it is possible that some of these complainants were dismissed in controversial circumstances or treated unfairly and got little or no benefits with which they can support their families as they fight to secure another job or source of income. Some of these people are languishing somewhere.

This is happening when times are hard in the country economically as the cost of living soars to historic highs.

One can only imagine the traumatic experiences such individuals and spouses are going through.

This is why we would like to strongly urge government to ensure that the IRC is adequately funded and that it has enough personnel not only to clear the current backlog but also to make sure the present situation does not recur.

The IRC is just a microcosm of how hard it is for Malawians to access timely justice. There are similar problems in the rest of the Judiciary, including the criminal justice system where, for example, murder suspects have been remanded for years.

Government must address all this.