Malawi Parliament Gives Nod to Export Workers to Israel
Malawi’s parliament has given the green light for the government to proceed with its plan to send 10,000 laborers to work on farms and industries in Israel. The approval came after a government fact-finding mission evaluated the living conditions of around 700 Malawians already employed in Israel. The delegation, led by Joyce Chitsulo, presented a report in parliament highlighting positive feedback from Malawian workers, who indicated they were working according to their contracts and being treated well.
The fact-finding mission engaged in various activities during its visit to Israel, including meetings with Israeli cabinet ministers, visits to Israel’s parliament, and discussions with labor agents and workers. While some challenges were reported, such as pay differences and sanitation facility issues, the delegation emphasized that these were being addressed.
The initiative to send Malawian workers to Israel aims to generate foreign exchange revenue for Malawi. Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda revealed that $735,000 has already been transferred to Malawi through the labor export arrangement with Israel. The current recruitment process involves agents in Malawi and Israel who have agreements with Israeli farmers needing workers.
The fact-finding mission recommended establishing a more comprehensive program, emphasizing the need for the government of Malawi to expedite the process of signing a government-to-government agreement for the formal operationalization of labor export. Lawmakers in Malawi supported these recommendations, viewing the program as an opportunity for those living in rural areas to expand beyond the urban workforce.
While the move has gained parliamentary approval, labor activists express concerns about political involvement in recruitment. Luther Mambala, former president of the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions, argues that involving politicians may lead to favoritism based on political affiliations. He suggests that the Ministry of Labor establish employment bureaus to ensure a merit-based recruitment process.
Although Malawi initially planned to send 10,000 laborers to Israel, the leader of the delegation, Joyce Chitsulo, revealed that Israeli authorities indicated the potential employment of up to 100,000 Malawians. The development signifies an opportunity for increased collaboration between the two nations in the labor sector.
