Officials warn Malawian, Chinese law breakers
Malawian and Chinese officials have warned that people who steal equipment and supplies at project sites or mistreat workers will face the law.
Secretary general of the Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) Dennis Kalekeni and economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Malawi Liu Guoyu made the joint declaration at a press briefing in Lilongwe on Saturday.
The briefing followed recent media reports that some Malawian nationals working at a $100 million (about K71.8 billion) Grand Business Park project in Lilongwe being undertaken by Chinese investors are being abused by the Chinese.
Kalekeni said since most of the allegations hinged on labour rights abuses, his organisation investigated the issue.
He said: “As MCTU, we will continue to represent all workers in Malawi with impartiality. Our stand is that all employers who abuse workers anywhere in Malawi must face the law for their violations.
“But having said this, MCTU will not tolerate Malawian workers who steal property from projects meant to serve ordinary citizens.”
Kalekeni announced that the MCTU has given the Grand Park management two weeks to improve the worker conditions further.
General manager of China Lilongwe Grand Holding Corporation Limited Gaoqiang Wu said he was happy that the matter has been sorted out.
In his remarks, Guoyu stressed that such isolated incidents should not be allowed to sour relations between the two countries’ peoples.
