The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) has called on the government to act immediately on the worsening fuel shortage.
In a statement signed by Secretary General Charles Kumchenga, the union said the scarcity of fuel is hurting workers, households, businesses and the wider economy.
It urged government, through the relevant ministries and agencies including the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), to restore a reliable supply across the country.
MCTU said the crisis comes at a time when wages are already far below the cost of living and it cited 2026 estimates by the Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) that a household needs about MK959,522 a month to meet its basic needs, while many workers earn between about MK83,720 and MK600,000 depending on their sector and occupation.
It warned that the scarcity is likely to push up the prices of essential commodities and services which might add pressure to an already difficult inflationary environment.
If the situation continues unchecked, MCTU warned, the consequences for Malawi’s economy could be severe, and workers cannot keep absorbing the shocks of fuel shortages and rising prices while their incomes stay largely unchanged.
The union made five demands. It first called on government to address the shortage immediately and ensure adequate and consistent fuel availability across the country.
It also urged decisive action against fuel hoarding, illegal trading and black-market pricing, which it said exploit already vulnerable consumers.
MCTU further asked government to strengthen the management and distribution of fuel supplies so that available fuel reaches consumers fairly and transparently.
It wants the public to receive regular and transparent updates on the fuel supply situation and the measures being taken to address it.
Finally, it called for action on the forex shortage, which it said has a direct impact on the current fuel crisis.
