By Wendy Mkandawire
Youth activist Frederick Mkula has praised the government’s decision to lift the freeze on public service recruitment, describing it as a positive step toward addressing unemployment challenges among young people.
Mkula said that the resumption of recruitment will provide opportunities for qualified youths waiting for positions in government and help improve livelihoods for successful applicants.
Over the weekend, the Malawi Government, in a letter signed by Secretary to the President and Cabinet Justin Adack Saidi, reversed its decision to halt recruitment in government ministries, departments, and agencies after months of restriction.
The move aims to reduce the expenditure of public funds and provide room for oversight and thorough scrutiny of the government wage bill.
While commending the government’s gesture, youth activist Fredrick Mkula, relying on the government alone, would not effectively address the job employment challenges, calling on stakeholders to devise other ways to contain the situation.
He said that government jobs alone cannot solve the country’s unemployment challenges due to limited vacancies.
He urged the government to increase investment in the private sector to stimulate business growth and create more sustainable jobs for the growing youth population.
The government had earlier suspended recruitment across public institutions as part of measures to manage public expenditure.
The latest directive now allows eligible institutions to begin filling vacant positions in line with established procedures.
