Malawi to review labour export policies amid concerns over ‘trapped’ citizens

Malawi has intensified efforts to redesign its existing labour export agreements with the Middle East and Asia, as well as the pending deal with Russia to ensure safety of Malawians. 

The move aims to ensure that these deals primarily benefit the individuals involved while providing robust legal protections.

A Malawian delegation attending the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Cairo, Egypt, held on December 19-20, disclosed this development. 

The summit, intended to bolster trade and economic ties, provided a platform for discussions on the safety of African migrant workers.

While confirming his attendance at the summit to South African news media outlets, Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda did not rule out the possibility of future labour agreements with Moscow. 

However, he emphasised that Malawi is currently prioritising the establishment of legal frameworks to protect citizens working abroad.

“We will be reviewing our current labour export agreements, including those with Israel and other nations, to ensure they include necessary safeguards to prevent exploitation,” Chaponda said.

Despite widespread concern regarding reports of African citizens allegedly “trapped” in Russian drone-manufacturing facilities, Chaponda claimed the issue was not on the summit’s formal agenda. 

Recent media investigations have revealed that African men and women are being lured to Russia with promises of educational scholarships, only to be coerced into supporting the military effort against Ukraine.

Malawi, alongside Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, and Lesotho, have launched investigations to trace and repatriate citizens who migrated under the programmes accused of being human trafficking schemes.

Currently, at least four Malawian women are reportedly at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, a military-industrial complex located approximately 1,000 kilometres east of Moscow, known for producing drones used in the invasion of Ukraine.

While Malawi currently maintains labor export deals with nations such as Qatar, Israel, Oman, and Kuwait, the prospect of adding Russia to this list has been met with significant domestic resistance due to the Alabuga reports. 

The majority of those who went to Oman were repatriated last year by the Malawi Government after it was exposed that they are being abused by their employers.

In Russia, two Africans recruited to fight Ukraine through the “Africa Corps” (formerly the Wagner Group), died at the battle front. 

A Zambian, Lemekani Nyirenda, and Tanzanian Nemes Tarimo were killed in combat shortly after joining the war to secure their freedom from jail. Both had gone to Russia to study.