The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) is embarking on a fact finding mission to Malawi to meet with trade unionists in the south east African country. The STUC visit will build on initial meetings held between the two trade union centres in April 2008 in Inverness.
STUC Assistant Secretary Mary Senior is travelling to Malawi to develop closer links with the Malawian Congress of Trade Unions and to explore how the STUC can support trade union development in Malawi.
Ms Senior will meet with senior representatives of the Malawian Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe, including the MCTU Secretary General Robert Mkwezalamba. Meetings will also be held with officials from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) Malawi field office, and the British High Commissioner in Lilongwe.
The STUC visit is being organised in conjunction with the TUC, supported by the DFID/TUC Strategic Framework Partnership Arrangement.
Speaking before the visit Mary Senior said
“Given Scotland’s historical links with Malawi, this is a tremendous opportunity for the Scottish trade union movement to work with Malawian trade unionists to make a positive contribution in improving the lives of workers in this, one of Africa’s poorest nations.
“We hope this will be the first of many joint ventures with the Malawian trade union movement.”
The STUC visit to Malawi takes place Saturday 9 August – Friday 15 August 2008.
ENDS
During the visit Mary Senior can be contacted through Kevin Buchanan at the STUC 0141 337 8100