By Patience Abeck
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-One of the country’s plastic manufacturing companies based in the capital Lilongwe, Ocean Industries Limited has become the first Malawi firm to give its employees “special financial packages” as part of its response to COVID-19 scare.
The development comes as a number of companies are in the vent of collapse, wiping out hundreds of jobs, as economy is slowing down.
Ocean Industries general manager Jagadeesh Kumar told The Maravi Post that the firm decided to send about 100 employees on a two-week paid leave in line with measures President Peter Mutharika announced on Saturday to offload workplaces.
Kumar disclosed that the package aimed at protecting the employees to caution their daily needs shortages amid the virus threat.
He said the firm has given employees salary advances, health kits to use at home and food hampers.
“We have given them salary advances and paid leave for two weeks to ease their burden because we’re all going to need them.
“We want to cushion them from economic hardships, but also protect them from health hazard,” he said.
Ocean Industries is involved in plastic manufacturing, real estate property and car hire businesses.
As of April 7, 2020, Malawi had eight case and one death of COVID-19.
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