By Burnett Munthali
The Ministry of Labour has taken decisive action following reports that two companies in Blantyre have dismissed employees who provided information about labour malpractices during official inspections. In a statement released on Monday, the ministry revealed that it had been made aware of cases of unfair dismissals at Moon Puffs Company and Hau-Li Plastic Manufacturers, a Chinese-owned firm.
According to the ministry, Moon Puffs Company allegedly laid off an employee who had cooperated with labour inspectors during a recent inspection led by the Minister of Labour, Honourable Vitumbiko AZ Mumba, Pr Eng. The incident has raised serious concerns about employer retaliation against whistleblowers in Malawi’s workforce.
Similarly, Hau-Li Plastic Manufacturers is accused of taking the same action against an employee after a separate labour inspection conducted in the evening of January 31, 2025. The Ministry of Labour views these developments as a violation of workers’ rights and an attempt to undermine government efforts to enforce fair labour practices.
In response to these allegations, the Ministry has summoned the owners of both companies to meet with the Minister of Labour to explain their actions. The meeting is expected to address the dismissals and determine appropriate measures to ensure that workers are not punished for exposing poor working conditions.
The Ministry of Labour has reassured Malawians that the issue will be handled in strict accordance with the country’s labour laws. The government has emphasized its commitment to protecting workers from victimization and has warned employers against retaliatory actions that violate employment regulations.
As labour rights advocates call for accountability, the outcome of the ministry’s intervention will set an important precedent for workplace fairness in Malawi. Meanwhile, employees across various industries are closely watching how the government will enforce labour laws to safeguard workers who speak out against injustices in the workplace.
