Chairperson of PAWUM at Limbuli Tea Estate Company in Mulanje, Wyson Khang’a, said with this 2%, wages increased from K1, 500 to K1, 618 per day.

“It would have been better if wages were increased to K2000 per day,” said Khang’a.

TAML Chief Executive Officer, Beyan Munthali, said wage increment is effected after collective bargaining between the employer in this case TAML and workers represented by PAWUM.

“Concerns over wages will always be there but for your own information, the tea industry has been way ahead of government set minimum wage for the past three years and that needs to be appreciated,” said Munthali.

Deputy Director for the Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU), Jessie Ching’oma, said PAWUM should relentlessly advocate for better wages up until workers are satisfied with better working conditions.

“It should not be a concern on wages only but they should advocate for other working conditions as well but as MCTU we have observed that at least the unions are doing a job in their work places,” said Ching’oma.

PAWUM has slightly over 1, 000 registered members from the tea industry which has over 80, 000 workers.