By Chisomo Kayla Mbalame;
Central Poultry Limited has come under renewed scrutiny over labour and workplace safety standards following an inspection by Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation Joel Chigona, who called on the company to ensure that workers rights and safety requirements are fully observed.
Chigona inspected the companys plant at Malangalanga in Lilongwe as part of follow-up inspections aimed at checking whether concerns raised during previous visits had been addressed and whether the company was complying with labour laws.
The inspection covered employment contracts, minimum wage compliance, overtime payments, pension contributions, use of Personal Protective Equipment and occupational safety and health requirements.
Chigona told management that workplace registration certificates must remain valid and that any workplace accident should be reported promptly to the Ministry for investigation.
Workplace registration certificates must stay updated and meet Occupational Safety and Health standards. Any workplace accidents must also be reported immediately to the Ministry for joint investigations, he said.
A key development highlighted during the inspection was the conversion of more than 2,000 casual workers to employees with written contracts. The change gives the workers clearer terms of employment and legal protection under labour laws.
The welfare of drivers also attracted attention after Chigona questioned whether the K7,000 subsistence allowance provided for field trips was adequate.
Company representatives explained that drivers also receive performance bonuses of up to K25,000 per trip based on safe driving, attendance and care of goods.
Chigona stressed that subsistence allowances should be clearly distinguished from performance bonuses.
The District Labour Office and the companys human resources department will meet to address the matter.
At the plant, the company pointed to physical improvements made since the previous inspection.
Marketing and Public Relations Manager Jessica Lonjezo Kadzakumanja said construction at the abattoir was underway, including expansion of toilet facilities from 25 to 60.
“Most of the abattoir is under construction. Probably in the next three to four months, the abattoir will be ready. Initially, we had 25 toilets; now were getting to 60 toilets,” she said.
Kadzakumanja also disclosed that an incinerator had been ordered to address waste management concerns and was expected to arrive within three to four months.
She said the company was continuing to make changes in response to concerns raised during earlier inspections.
“Every time you come here to the abattoir, you find that something has changed, and the changes are significant, “Kadzakumanja said.
Chigona said the Ministry would continue following up on workplaces to ensure that employers provide safe working conditions and uphold workers statutory rights.
