The Industrial Relations Court (IRC) has bemoaned failure by employers and employees to amicably resolve their cases that it has resulted into backlog of cases at its courts.  

IRC Acting Chairperson Austin Msowoya said this during a panel discussion on the labour and employment bills that were recently deliberated by the National Assembly.

According to Msowoya, some work-related issues can be resolved without approaching the court unlike opting any case for legal action.

“Because there such a huge backlog of cases in the IRC, it’s not because lack of capacity only or maybe the presence of panelists.

“It’s also a possibility that this is so because everyone who gets dismissed, hopes to come to the IRC to get their case tried,” said Msowoya.

Concurring with Msowoya, Chairperson for Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) Robert Mkwezalamba said workplaces need to adopt alternative dispute resolutions.

He said: “Not all cases warrant proper hearing the fact of the matter is that when indeed you are fired you would want some formal of justice.

“But if you can adopt what we adopt alternative dispute resolutions mechanisms where cases are resolved at a grassroots level starting from the workplace where the Union is engaged together with the management,” Mkwezalamba said.

Meanwhile, the Malawi Law Society through its Honorary Secretary Chrispine Ngunde said employees need to make full use of the Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) as a platform that can resolve their cases before approaching the courts.