I frequently receive from the “Center for Social Concern” the updated calculation of the Basic Needs Basket (BNB) for Malawian Citizens. It is established by comparing accross regions the up-to-date prices of the basic needs of a family of 6 (two parents and four kids). It is very well done and should challenge all the people who are employing personnel (especially unqualified personnel), paying them far less than fair wages. They often ease their consciences by following the legal minimums or by doing like everyone else.
I do not always take time to examine the data, but today I did. The Malawian government has just reajusted the minimum wages to 25,000 Malawian Kwacha par mois, or €25 !! But the calculation of the BNB for November 2017 amount to 161,557 Malawian Kwacha, or €187, which is more than 7 times higher than the minimum wages.
And that is for very basic needs, without even counting school fees, uniforms and books, without counting transport (bus to go to work or to school), without any sweet or ice cream and of course, dreaming of a car will never ever materialise.
How much are we, Missionaries of Africa, paying our personnel?
Philippe Docq, M.Afr.