Employment
Employment Act with Industrial Relations Court adjudication and severance allowance
The Employment Act 6 of 2000 governs contracts and termination, requiring a valid reason and a fair hearing for dismissal. Severance allowance is payable on termination for reasons other than misconduct. The Industrial Relations Court has first-instance jurisdiction over labour disputes.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The Labour Office conciliates; the Industrial Relations Court determines; appeals lie to the High Court.
- Deadline — Unfair dismissal complaint: within 6 months to the Industrial Relations Court
- Deadline — Severance allowance: computed on a statutory scale by years of service
Governing law
- Employment Act 6 of 2000
- Labour Relations Act 16 of 1996
- Workers' Compensation Act 7 of 2000
In practice
The Industrial Relations Court is not bound by strict rules of evidence and is intended to be accessible without representation, which makes it the practical forum for the large majority of Malawian dismissal claims.