Government warns against fake job recruiters

The government of Malawi through the Ministry of Labour, Skills and Innovation (MoLSI) has issued a stern warning to Malawians about the growing number of private recruitment agencies and individuals advertising non-existent foreign job vacancies. According to a statement issued by Secretary for Labour, Skills and Innovation, Nwazi Mnthambala, job seekers are being charged high fees by these scammers, leaving many in financial trouble and at risk of being taken advantage of. The Ministry emphasizes that charging fees for jobs that do not exist is a serious offence punishable by law, and recruiting or transferring persons through fraud or deception for exploitation amounts to trafficking which is a criminal offence under the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2015. However, the Ministry is advising Malawians seeking employment abroad to exercise extreme caution by verifying job opportunities with the Ministry before making payments and demanding authenticated Job Orders. The statement further says that the government is committed to ensuring safe and fair labour migration and private agencies need to operate ethically. The public is urged to report suspicious recruitment activities to the Ministry or nearest police station.