In July 2017, Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) employees in Blantrye were on strike, demanding better working conditions. Other admarc depots followed suit, resulting into a country wide strike. Two years later, history repeats itself as the employees are yet again on another nationwide strike as Admarc Welfare Workers Union chairperson John Hassan said the workers have resolved not to return to work until all their demands are met by management.

The employers want a salary restructuring agreement which was scheduled to start in March this year, to be implemented; this grievance comes along with urging management to remit about K1.8 billion in pension fund arrears and implement a salary. Government has responded that it will borrow about K2 billion from a commercial bank to clear the pension arrears and some tax liabilities with the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) but the staff were not convinced that their authorities would act on the issues.

“Our resolve is that no staff will return to work unless we are assured that our pension money has been remitted. If we do not get the new salary scale this month with arrears for March we are not returning to work.” said Hassan.

Meanwhile farmers who would have sold their harvests to Admarc, will have to wait until the issue is settled; the strike has happened amidst admarcs buying season, as farmers are amidst harvest season.