Knowledge is power, and for us as a trade union, professional organization, and non-governmental organization, understanding Malawi’s labor laws is crucial. In early September, we took a step toward empowering our members by conducting a comprehensive training for shop stewards from various health facilities within the Central West Zone.

The discussions so far have been highly enlightening, sparking thoughtful conversations and critical reflection. As we will be continuing in the north and south zones, we are confident that this training will have a lasting impact on both the participants and their respective workplaces and NONM as a whole.

One of the participants, Glory Gwaza, Vice Branch Chairperson of Bwaila in Lilongwe, shared her thoughts on the training:

“Today’s training on shop stewards has been so enlightening, especially when we discussed the Employment Act and the labor laws governing our profession. We also gained valuable insights on pension matters, which were previously unclear to many of us.”

“I particularly appreciate the session on our roles as stewards, where we learned about transformational leadership. We were taught how to conduct situational analyses of our branches and take necessary actions. This knowledge will enable us to drive positive change when we return to our respective workplaces. It’s been a very good workshop, and I believe we will make a difference,” she added.

Participants doing group work during the workshop

As we move forward, we are committed to ensuring that the knowledge gained here will be applied to strengthen our branches and improve the working conditions of our members. Together, we will continue to drive positive change across Malawi’s health sector.

This important initiative would not have been possible without the generous financial support of our longstanding development partners, the Norwegian Nurses Organisation. Their contribution has been vital in ensuring that we can continue to educate and empower our members.