Last month, the Tea Association of Malawi (Taml) rejected the proposal to raise farmers’ minimum wage from K35000 to K50000 per month, citing various reasons, but the association has announced a resolution to raise the wage to K45000.

Signing on the above with the Plantation and Agriculture Workers Union (Pawu), Taml Chairperson Sangwani Hara outlined that the figure was concluded after lengthy discussions considering that the industry itself is not performing, while the coronavirus pandemic has made things worse.

Reacting to the development, Pawu President Gracian Khembo expressed dissatisfaction in the raise, stating the farmers are in short term contracts so the sum is not sufficient enough to carry them through the times they are laid off

Meanwhile, the global tea market registered lower prices but Khembo outlined that such problems are ongoing and must not be a major factor in deciding the minimum wage.