Malawi worker export to S Korea dubbed 'modern-day slavery'

Critics fear President Joyce Banda's plan to beat joblessness by sending tens of thousands of Malawians to South Korea could be "modern-day slavery".

11 JUN 2013 09:11FELIX MPONDA

Malawi's popular gospel musician Joseph Alfazema has quit his singing career, at least for now, for a job as an unskilled agricultural labourer in South Korea where he hopes to earn "lots of dollars."

He is among tens of thousands of Malawians soon to go to South Korea under a controversial employment scheme launched by Malawi's President Joyce Banda to beat joblessness in the impoverished southern African country suffering over 50% unemployment.

Critics fear the downside of the plan could be "modern-day slavery".

But Labour Minister Eunice Makangala has rubbished the fears telling Parliament recently that "it is not modern-day slavery".

The president's plan is to "offer employment opportunities for young school leavers who have nothing to do and [to] address the rising unemployment rates in the country".

Up to 200 000 youths enter the job market every year in Malawi although only 40 000 new jobs are created, according to labour experts.

In Malawi, ranked among the least developed nations on earth, about 40% of its 13-million people live on less than a dollar a day. Foreign aid accounts for about 40% of the government budget.

'Impress the South Koreans'

When she launched the initiative in March, Banda said: "I want them to go and work hard and impress the South Koreans".
Malawi plans to send up to 100 000 migrant workers aged between 19 and 40 years to South Korea, Dubai and Kuwait.

The government has now launched an advertising blitz for vacancies in the hospitality and agricultural sectors.

Alfazema was one of those to first to secure a job as a farmworker.

"I am not dumping my musical career, but I want to go and make more money for me to buy my own equipment," he said.

His career has hit the skids due to his lack of recording equipment and funds to produce DVDs for sale. He last recorded a video two years ago.

The migrant workers to South Korea will earn up to $1 000 a month. That compares to salaries back home which average $100 in both the private and public sectors.

But there are concerns that Malawi could be turned into a source of cheap labour.
'Brain drain'

Billy Mayaya, head of an NGO National League for Democracy and Development, fears the scheme would lead to "modern-day slavery". "Chances of being exploited are higher, [instead] the government should focus at creating jobs back home."

Lawmaker Steven Kamwendo from the former governing Democratic Progressive Party of late president Bingu wa Mutharika warned the government to be very clear about the terms under which the workers are going before sending them away.

"We always cry about brain drain and encourage Malawians in the diaspora to come back home ... yet here we are exporting the cream of our labour force abroad. It doesn't make sense at all," said Kamwendo.

Wiseman Chijere Chirwa, a policy analysis lecturer at the University of Malawi, is just as sceptical.

"Why would an Asian country be interested in Malawi labour?" asked Chirwa. "The danger is that Malawi labour might be favoured for its cheapness, thereby pushing Malawians into ultra-oppressive and ultra-exploitative labour regimes."

But government is adamant the move would be beneficial as workers will send cash home and build up savings in foreign currency.

Labour Minister Makangala dismissed fears of exploitation, telling Agence France-Presse that government labour experts had been to South Korea to assess the conditions and were "generally satisfied".

She added that Malawi was not the first country to export labour, with 16 other countries having signed deals to send migrant workers to the Middle East.

"There are more employment opportunities in Dubai and Kuwait for both unskilled and skilled positions," she added. – AFP

Vihabari vyako vingi huwa ni vya pumba pumba tu. Tangu zamani sana nakufuatilia ujue.

nngu007 said:

How nice... In Tanganyika them South Koreans came for Our land, Owning several RICE; TOMATO; FRUITS plantations in MOROGORO, Rufiji Basin and other hidden areas...

They exploit Our Land; Our able bodied people; Our life system e.t.c. who is to blame? Nyerere left us poor but with our FREEDOM and Independence... Now we do have so called EDUCATION; POWER; VISION; WEALTH but we are slowly going back to sweet dreams of slavery on Our Own Land!!!

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Hakuna cha slavery hapo na acha ndoto zako za mchana na kutishia watu

Huyo Prezda ana akili ndogo kinoma, ameishi nje kweli au kwa kua anapata hela ya serikalini anadhani maisha nje ni mepesi sana. Hapa South Korea hiyo $1000 kwa mwezi mbona inakatika fasta tu, hapo sanasana utapata chumba kidogo na msosi, labda na vi nguo viwili vitatu.. Labda kama amepanga biashara nyingine ila kama anategemea biashara za chinichini hizo kaumia, kwani hata South Korea kuna watu hawana kazi labda waingie Southkorea vijijini kulima, itakua ajabu maana mashamba wanayaacha africa waje kulima huku...

Koba said:

Hakuna cha slavery hapo na acha ndoto zako za mchana na kutishia watu

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Explain to me... not short answer...

Dreson4 said:

Huyo Prezda ana akili ndogo kinoma, ameishi nje kweli au kwa kua anapata hela ya serikalini anadhani maisha nje ni mepesi sana. Hapa South Korea hiyo $1000 kwa mwezi mbona inakatika fasta tu, hapo sanasana utapata chumba kidogo na msosi, labda na vi nguo viwili vitatu.. Labda kama amepanga biashara nyingine ila kama anategemea biashara za chinichini hizo kaumia, kwani hata South Korea kuna watu hawana kazi labda waingie Southkorea vijijini kulima, itakua ajabu maana mashamba wanayaacha africa waje kulima huku...

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Nyie watu wa ajabu sana kazi yenu ni kuwa critic tuu na hamna deatails zozote kuhusu plan nzima,nchi mnaambiwa ni more than 50% unemployment na ni maskini kweli kweli,for me its better waende huko hata wapate hizo 1000$ na vinguo viwili kuliko kuwa wezi nchini kwao,acheni waende hakuna wanacho poteza ingawaje wote tunajua hawatakuwa matajiri kwa hizo kazi lakini experience na ujuzi utawasaidia sana...nampongeza huyo mama!

nngu007 said:

Explain to me... not short answer...

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Koreans hawajamwibia mtu yeyote ardhi,wamenunua kama investors wengine tuu kutokana na sharia za nchi sasa hapo slavery ipo wapi? na unafikiri wakati wa Nyerere kulikuwa hakuna foreign companies zilizokuwa zinafanya business kwa kutumia land?FYI it was massive kuanzia Arusha ,Iringa,Morogoro etc foreigners walikuwa na hundrelds of thousands of acres of land...hakuna jipya hapo wala hakuna slavery

I guess the angle of perspective to this matter is very important.
Due to a difference of above mentioned angle to some contributors of this thread, I also bet they may end up quelling.

Koba said:

Nyie watu wa ajabu sana kazi yenu ni kuwa critic tuu na hamna deatails zozote kuhusu plan nzima,nchi mnaambiwa ni more than 50% unemployment na ni maskini kweli kweli,for me its better waende huko hata wapate hizo 1000$ na vinguo viwili kuliko kuwa wezi nchini kwao,acheni waende hakuna wanacho poteza ingawaje wote tunajua hawatakuwa matajiri kwa hizo kazi lakini experience na ujuzi utawasaidia sana...nampongeza huyo mama!

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hiyo ni nchi ya watu pia, we unadhani idadi kubwa ya watu hivo wataenda tu na kuchukua hela kirahisi ka unavodhani? Kama wamekosa kazi Malawi unadhani South korea ndio watapata? Swala sio kuexport watu ovyoovyo, unless unajua pa kwenda kuwaweka, nyie ndio wale mnaona bora kua ombaomba US kuliko kukaa bongo, Huwezi uka export watu in such a large number ovyoovyo unless una plans, bora angesema anaenda kuwasomesha warudi na experience ya kutosha ila kusema anawaondoa ina tofauti gani na kuwafukuza nchini? Sasa umeambiwa nchi za watu ndio sehemu za kwenda kumwaga wananchi wako?
Kama akili ya kifanya kazi Malawi tu mtu hana nje ndio unadhani atapata? Labda kuokota uchafu, na hiyo kama hujui lugha yao hawakupi maana wapo pia wanaotaka hiyo kazi ambao ni wazaliwa wa hilo eneo.

Dreson4 said:

hiyo ni nchi ya watu pia, we unadhani idadi kubwa ya watu hivo wataenda tu na kuchukua hela kirahisi ka unavodhani? Kama wamekosa kazi Malawi unadhani South korea ndio watapata? Swala sio kuexport watu ovyoovyo, unless unajua pa kwenda kuwaweka, nyie ndio wale mnaona bora kua ombaomba US kuliko kukaa bongo, Huwezi uka export watu in such a large number ovyoovyo unless una plans, bora angesema anaenda kuwasomesha warudi na experience ya kutosha ila kusema anawaondoa ina tofauti gani na kuwafukuza nchini? Sasa umeambiwa nchi za watu ndio sehemu za kwenda kumwaga wananchi wako?
Kama akili ya kifanya kazi Malawi tu mtu hana nje ndio unadhani atapata? Labda kuokota uchafu, na hiyo kama hujui lugha yao hawakupi maana wapo pia wanaotaka hiyo kazi ambao ni wazaliwa wa hilo eneo.

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South Korea kipindi cha nyuma walishawahi kupeleka watu wao huko ulaya kwa ajili ya kupata mtaji wa kujenga kiwanda cha chuma, walihenyeshwa haswaaa na rais wao alipoenda kuwatembelea aliishia kuwarudisha nyumbani kwa huruma maana walikuwa hoi kweli kweli.

Dreson4 said:

hiyo ni nchi ya watu pia, we unadhani idadi kubwa ya watu hivo wataenda tu na kuchukua hela kirahisi ka unavodhani? Kama wamekosa kazi Malawi unadhani South korea ndio watapata? Swala sio kuexport watu ovyoovyo, unless unajua pa kwenda kuwaweka, nyie ndio wale mnaona bora kua ombaomba US kuliko kukaa bongo, Huwezi uka export watu in such a large number ovyoovyo unless una plans, bora angesema anaenda kuwasomesha warudi na experience ya kutosha ila kusema anawaondoa ina tofauti gani na kuwafukuza nchini? Sasa umeambiwa nchi za watu ndio sehemu za kwenda kumwaga wananchi wako?
Kama akili ya kifanya kazi Malawi tu mtu hana nje ndio unadhani atapata? Labda kuokota uchafu, na hiyo kama hujui lugha yao hawakupi maana wapo pia wanaotaka hiyo kazi ambao ni wazaliwa wa hilo eneo.

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Huna idea na unachoongea wewe.mexican na kazi zao US za kuosha vyombo na kuchuma matunda wanachangia kiasi kikubwa sana GDP ya kwao,zile dola 50 za western union unazodharau kutoka US FYI ni big part of Economy,tatizo la watu kama wewe na theory zenu za kukariri mnafikiri watu wa kipato cha chini ni useless na hawana mchango wowote,kuan watu wengi na kzi zao za kuokota uchafu wanasomesha hapo UD na kujenga nyumba nzuri kuliko your stupid salary ya TRA/BOT,unapiga kelele slavery huku unemployment is more than 50%...you are just BS kaa kimya!

Koba said:

Huna idea na unachoongea wewe.mexican na kazi zao US za kuosha vyombo na kuchuma matunda wanachangia kiasi kikubwa sana GDP ya kwao,zile dola 50 za western union unazodharau kutoka US FYI ni big part of Economy,tatizo la watu kama wewe na theory zenu za kukariri mnafikiri watu wa kipato cha chini ni useless na hawana mchango wowote,kuan watu wengi na kzi zao za kuokota uchafu wanasomesha hapo UD na kujenga nyumba nzuri kuliko your stupid salary ya TRA/BOT,unapiga kelele slavery huku unemployment is more than 50%...you are just BS kaa kimya!

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Unajua tatizo lako ushapandisha hasira na kuanza kutamka mambo ovyoovyo bila kufikiria, au unasoma uchumi unafanya testing kwangu nini? hahaha polepole kijana, siamini kama uwezo wako wa kufikiri hapo ndio umeishia, hivi unadhani watu 100,000 ni idadi ndogo? afu unavokaa unasema hao wa mexico kazi za kuosha vyombo afu wanatuma hela, wanatuma hela gani?? afu wao wafe njaa au? Huwezi ukakaa unafanya kazi ya kuosha vyombo South Korea alafu ukabakiza hela ya kutuma hata siku moja, hakuna saving ya hivyo, na kama hujui South korea ni moja ya nchi ambayo kwa foreigners wanawabana sana, si kirahisi kama unavyofikiria, mnaweza mkawa mnafanya kazi moja tena ukawa better lakini mkorea akalipwa zaidi kuliko wewe, nipo Seoul najua kinachoendelea, tatizo la kuishi bongo na kutokujua nje maisha ya koje kisikudanganye, watu wanaofanya kazi za chini sana nje hakuna savings, maisha ni bei juu sana kuishi nje, kwa mwezi tu milioni inakatika hapo umekula na kulala tu tena chumba kidogo, unadhani utaosha vyombo upewe milioni Seoul?? nikupe mfano wahindi wengi wamejazana huku katika IT industries, Imagine Software engineer kwenye IT Industry analalamika hela anayopewa ni ngumu kufanya savings, wale wanalipwa almost 8million Tsh/m kwa industry kubwa, iweje muosha vyombo au mkulima? Msikae na kudanganywa maisha nje ya nchi unakusanya hela kirahisi unatuma nyumbani, hali haiendi hivyo, kuna shida pia, na usidhani wakorea nao unemployment rate haipo, huku napo wapo unemployed wengi tu wanasota na maisha... I guess wewe ndio huna idea na unachoongea maana umejifungia bongo sasa utajuaje kinachoendelea nje? Nimeenda nchi nyingi najua vizuri maisha yalivyo kwa taarifa yako... Na sijaongelea slavery kwenye comment zangu kwa hiyo samahani kwa hilo kjn. Usikae ukasema watu na kazi za kuokota uchafu wanasomesha watu UD, unamaanisha kuwanunulia daftari huku wanalipiwa mkopo wote na serikali au? na unauhakika gani? hata mimi nimekaa bongo bna najua hizo hadithi tulikua tukizipiga sana shuleni enzi hizo tunadanganyana ati ukienda nje hata kuokota uchafu dili, au kwa kua unasikia mtu analipwa kwa saa in Dollars unakaa unapiga fasta exchange rate afu unajidanganya? hahaha pole kama unasoma uchumi anza upya kusoma, lazima uangalie na expenditure ya sehemu ile alipo vilevile kabla hujafikiria hayo, hivyo vi 50Dollar unavyoviongelea mbona wabongo wengi sana wako nje na kila siku uchumi wa bongo uko ovyo? Hujui hata kinachofanyika Western Union au money transfer system yoyote kubalance system afu unapiga kelele, hapo napo kapasome sawa kjn?