A Malawian Member of Parliament, Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, has defended the Government’s decision to send the country’s youths to Isreal to work on farms saying they will be earning US$1 500 per month each.
President Lazarus McCathy Chakwera’s administration said exporting farm labourers to Israel was to fulfil its commitment to creating jobs and empowering young people.
Some prominent African political commentators have criticised Malawi for the decision saying it shows the continent has a dearth of progressive leadership.
However, posting on Facebook, Mkaka, who is the current MP for Lilongwe Mpenu Constituency and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, defended the policy saying:
<blockquote>
A lot is being said about the labour export deal; much out of misinformation or outright disinformation. 
The current crop that has gone will work on hi-tech Israeli farms. Thus direct, medium to long-term benefit will be knowledge transfer.
Besides the knowledge transfer, these people will be getting at least $1,500 a month and this will be sent to their accounts here in Malawi (in $) as per agreement.
For 5.000 youths (there is a possibility the figure might go up to 10,000) that’s no less than $90, 000, 000 ($180,000,000 if 10,000 are sent) direct dollar injection into the economy annually for five years.
For the student program that’s been there, before the MCP-led Tonse Alliance got into government, the government of Israel was getting 40 students (from Luanar – NRC) every year for a one-year internship on farms in Israel.
When we came into government and because of the relationship HE Dr Laz has established with Israel, we (in November 2020 when I went to Israel as Foreign Affairs Minister), negotiated the figure to 200 every year.
At the end of the internship, each student is given cash amounting to $10,000. For 200 students that’s $2,000,000.
Some students have invested wisely and we have practical examples. Others have formed cooperatives.
</blockquote>
Mkaka said Malawi has taken a “bold” move taking advantage of the withdrawal of Thai nationals from Israel.
He claimed that Israel has only picked Malawi in Africa to benefit from this programme, adding that some countries in Africa have been pressuring Israel to include them.
Mkaka admitted that there are risks associated with the policy but added “There is no return without a risk!”
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Malawian Farm Labourers To Earn US$1 500 Per Month In Israel, Says Lilongwe MP

The Progressive Agriculture and Allied Industries Workers Union of Zimbabwe (PAAWUZ) has been encouraged by the coming into office of President Emerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
PAAWUZ secretary-general Raymond Sixpence said that under former President Robert Mugabe’s government, his union could not recover the money owed to its members by farmers, most of whom were protected by the system.
To date, PAAWUZ has managed to recover more than $300 000 owed to its members by commercial farmers. Said Sixpence:
<blockquote>The commercial farmers would bribe the security sector to harass us and even chase us away from farms where we work with farmworkers but everything has changed now and we can freely visit our members.
There is also easy communication with the farmers because they now know they cannot be protected because the new government does not tolerate that.
While we still have more than double of what we have recovered being owed by some stubborn commercial farmers, overall we are thankful to the new government for supporting black farm workers and restoring their rights and dignity.</blockquote>
The union represents more than 30 000 farmworkers across the country. Most of these farmworkers are owed thousands of dollars in back pay, salary arrears, retrenchment packages and pensions.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.dailynews.co.zw/articles/2019/08/24/paawuz-happy-with-new-dispensation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

Farm Workers 'Happy' With New Dispensation

Farm workers have been awarded a 47 per cent pay hike to backdated to March 1, 2019.
Before the adjustment was made, the least paid worker in the horticulture sector was earning ZWL$89 a month, while the highest was taking home ZWL$176.
The salary adjustment means that the least paid worker will now be earning ZWL$131 while the highest paid will earn ZWL$259.
A document signed on March 28 by the Zimbabwe Agriculture Employers Organisation, Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union, Commercial Farmers’ Union, Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union, General Agriculture and Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe among others read in part:
<blockquote>All amounts have been rounded off to the nearest RTGS dollar. An employer/employee can apply to the National Employment Council within 14 days for an exemption or partial exemption /review from paying wages as set up in the above schedule, stating the reasons why that application should be considered.</blockquote>
In light of the salary adjustments, Progressive Agriculture and Allied Industries Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe general secretary Raymond Sixpence had this to say:
<blockquote>It’s a step in the right direction, but not enough to cushion them from the current economic hardships.
It was going to be better if they had said they will pay half of their salaries in US dollars and another half in RTGS dollars since they are exporting and earning foreign currency.</blockquote>
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<h4><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/grace-tells-farm-workers-that-not-even-mnangagwa-will-make-her-pay-their-outstanding-wages/">Grace Tells Farm Workers That Not Even Mnangagwa Will Make Her Pay Their Outstanding Wages</a></h4>
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<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/04/agric-industry-awards-employees-47-salary-increment/">Newsday</a></h4>

Farm Workers Receive 47% Pay Rise

The Progressive Agriculture and Allied Industries Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PAAWUZ) has slammed the paltry increment that was given to farmworkers. The farmworkers who earn between $75 and $82 got an increment of between $5 and $7 following negotiations.  PAAWUZ secretary-general Raymond Sixpence
<blockquote>This is a joke. How can they give an increase of $5 and $7 under these economic conditions? Zimbabwe is open for business but not for workers exploitation. This is unacceptable and we want that to be put aside and we embark on proper negotiations that reflect the reality on the ground. It is unfortunate that those who negotiated this agreed for this pittance. Farm workers deserve better and those unions and employers who negotiated for this must be warned that their time to look down upon farm workers is over.</blockquote>
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Farm Workers Cry Foul After Getting $5 Increment

Former first lady Grace Mugabe is reported to have told at least 106 farm workers at Gwina Farm in Banket, that she was not going to pay their outstanding salaries no matter what. At a meeting last week, Grace allegedly dared the workers to even report to President Emmerson Mnangagwa if they wished but declared that he did not have the power to make her do anything. Gwina farm was reportedly seized by Grace from Supreme Court judge Justice Ben Hlatshwayo.
Golden Pinjisi, the workers representative at Gwina Farm told the weekly publication, The Standard,
<blockquote>She came breathing fire in Banket accompanied by former president Mugabe and lied that she had given us our dues, but when asked by Mugabe if she had evidence that she paid us, she went mad, telling the former president to keep quiet accusing us of lying to him. She is still the motor-mouth Grace Mugabe.
Let’s meet in the courts. I will not give you any cent even if you go and report to Mnangagwa.Nothing is going to change. Mnangagwa has no say over us.</blockquote>
Grace’s lawyer, Fungai Chimwamurombe confirmed the meeting but said the allegations were being made by disgruntled employees who were illegally occupying the farm.
More: The Standard

Grace Tells Farm Workers That  Not Even Mnangagwa Will Make Her Pay Their Outstanding Wages

At least 200 workers at Mitchell and Mitchell Estate face the axe after being served with retrenchment letters. This follows comments by President Robert Mugabe<a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/news/2017/06/04/white-farmers-allegedly-harboured-kaukonde-lose-land-mugabe/" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> in which he threatened to seize all farms owned by white people in Mashonaland East</a>. Mugabe claimed that over 70 white farmers had been ‘harboured’ by ousted governor Ray Kaukonde.
One of the workers spoke to New Zimbabwe saying:
<blockquote>At least 200 workers at Mitchell and Mitchell and Churchill farms received letters last week notifying them that the company intended to retrench them due to low business. The letters were signed by the company’s director and owner, Jane Mitchell,
However, when we queried this, we were told by the farm directors that the real reason was that the company was facing uncertainty due to statements made by the President (Mugabe) recently that he would take over all the remaining farms owned by white farmers in Marondera.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://newzimbabwe.com/news-37793-Mugabe+threat+Estate+retrenches+200+staff/news.aspx">New Zimbabwe</a>

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