Drivers Union of Malawi (DUM) senior officials will from next Monday start making visitations to several companies in the cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu.
The tour comes about at a time when government has just revised and gazetted new minimum wages which many drivers are yet to start benefiting from.
The visits will start from Lilongwe then Blantyre and will be concluded in Mzuzu.
According to DUM Secretary General Rodwell Kuntanga they will embark on this campaign to make sure that companies give drivers better perks following the revision of the minimum wage by government.
‘Said Kuntanga,’As DUM we want to see to it that our members are not being exploited as is the case now. Some companies are ill-treating drivers and we have been receiving complaints regarding the same. If the set minimum is not been adhered to then it is injustice of the highest order. By sending out this notice it is because we do not want to been seen as if we are ambushing companies,.”
According to a statement from the Ministry of Labour signed by Minister Peter Dimba the new minimum wage to drivers driving a 30 to truck and above must be K320,300 up from K230,000.
These trucks normally ply on the international route.
Drivers plying on the local routes using 30 tonne trucks are supposed to get K234,000 up from K109,500.
Those driving vehicles below 30 tons are entitled to get K100,500 per month.
Kuntanga added that the worst victims of low wages are drivers driving trucks and minibuses as they are subjected to tough working conditions which sometimes force them to drive recklessly hence causing avoidable accidents in many instances.
‘Some drivers go for months on end without getting pay because of unfair deductions for issues beyond their control. These are some of the issues we will bring on the table,’ Said Kuntanga.
One of the affected drivers Elliot Joloza of Area 24 said it high time companies are taken to task for mistreating drivers because their work involves protecting lives of people as well as goods
‘We are an important stakeholder but sometimes our efforts are not rewarded. We commend DUM for the initiative and it is our hope that it will bring out positive results,’ said Joloza.
DUM has got thousands of members across the country and its main mandate is to fight for the rights of drivers.
