09/06/2026
The Ministry of Labour, Skills and Innovation, the Employers’ Consultative Association of Malawi (ECAM) and the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) have jointly warned the Professional Drivers Union of Malawi (PRODUM) against taking industrial action outside legal processes over the newly gazetted minimum wage for truck drivers.
In a joint statement, the three “Social Partners” say they are “deeply concerned with the conduct of PRODUM” after the union wrote to government on 1 June demanding fresh consultation on truck drivers’ pay by 5 June and threatening to withdraw labour from 8 June if no “tangible resolution” was reached.
A second letter on 4 June objected to the gazetted minimum wage and called for a 100% increase, harmonization of local and cross-border driver salaries, and formal occupational grading.
The Social Partners say they commend PRODUM’s “commitment to dialogue as a cardinal rule to resolving differences at work”, but stressed that any ultimatums or actions taken outside the provisions of the law may undermine the principles of social dialogue and industrial harmony.
They reaffirmed commitment to promoting decent work, social justice, fair wages and the protection of workers’ rights, including the lawful exercise of the right to strike.
The statement clarified that once gazetted, a minimum wage order becomes legally binding and serves as the minimum standard of remuneration.
The partners also noted that minimum wage is a floor, not a ceiling, and employers and workers remain free to negotiate higher pay through collective bargaining.
On PRODUM’s proposals, the Social Partners says they remain “open to continued engagement and constructive dialogue” on harmonizing local and cross-border wages and on introducing occupational grades, adding that further union submissions are welcome.
-Malumbo Ngwira-
