Written by Richard Kayenda
Workers at Malawi Shipping Company (MSC) have put on hold all passenger and cargo vessels on Lake Malawi demanding a pay hike by their Superiors.
According to the Secretary for the Marine Transport and General Workers Union, Paul Wisike, more than 70 percent of workers receive K40, 000 as a minimum monthly salary.
Wisike said at the meantime, all marine travel including MV Ilala have been suspended until their concerns are addressed by management.
“I can assure you people now; they are here on sit in. They have their own demands which started last year in July. The negotiations with the management of Malawi Shipping Company have had no response from the management, that’s why the workers have decided to go on sit in.
“So far we have been on our gazette. So, for an increment, it will be too much for a percentage. So, we decided to go for salary restructuring which people are just demanding for the government salary from the government gazette. There is no actual percentage which we are looking for but the majority of workers are receiving K40, 000. As soon as they meet our demands, we can call off the sit in,” Wisike said.
Malawi Shipping Company is managed by a construction company, Motor Engel, as a concessioner. However, the Company’s Spokesperson, Thomas Chafunya, was not readily available for a comment as he was busily engaged in a meeting.
