By Jones Gadama
Labour experts and health rights activists have condemned the Ministry of Health’s continued use of walk-in interviews in government recruitments, describing it as a violation of human rights. The criticism comes after the ministry conducted walk-in interviews for Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) on May 31, 2025, exposing job seekers to unhealthy conditions.
Robert Mkwezalama, a labour activist, expressed concern that the recruitment process highlighted the alarming levels of unemployment in the country.
“It’s unfortunate that the ministry chose to conduct walk-in interviews despite knowing the risks associated with gathering large crowds of job seekers,” Mkwezalama said.
George Jobe, a health rights campaigner, echoed Mkwezalama’s sentiments, suggesting that the ministry should adopt online recruitment processes to avoid such situations in the future.
“Online recruitment would not only ensure the safety and well-being of job seekers but also streamline the process, making it more efficient and transparent,” Jobe said.
However, Adrian Chikumbe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, defended the decision to conduct walk-in interviews, citing urgency and the need to ensure equity and transparency in the recruitment process. “Our arrangement was designed to deal with corruption and ensure that the process is fair and transparent,” Chikumbe explained.
The controversy surrounding walk-in interviews raises important questions about the need for reform in government recruitment processes.
As Malawi continues to navigate the complexities of economic development and job creation, finding solutions that balance efficiency with human rights will be crucial.
In other news, labour rights organizations are pushing for reforms to protect workers’ rights, such as the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which aims to give workers more tools to organize and bargain for better working conditions.
This legislation would eliminate “right-to-work” laws, clarify employer-employee relationships, and streamline union election processes
