ACT project baseline study exposes childcare crisis

A recent study by the NGO Coalition on Child Rights (NGO-CCR) has revealed alarming findings about the plight of domestic workers in Malawi, highlighting that most earn far below the government’s prescribed minimum wage.

According to the baseline study, conducted for the Action for Paid Childcare Sector Transformation (ACT) Project implemented by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC - Malawi) in partnership with WOLREC, despite the Ministry of Labour’s recent review of the minimum wage for domestic workers, to K72,500, about 59 percent of respondents reported earning less than the set standard.

Presenting the findings at a two-day research Dissemination Workshop for the ACT Project in Mponela- Dowa, NGO-CCR Programme Officer Faith Iwalani highlighted that most of the domestic workers indicated that they take home between K30,000 and K50,000 per month, far below the cost of living.

“These women work long hours doing household chores and caring for children, yet their income is not enough to sustain their livelihoods. This has serious implications for the quality of childcare in the country.

“When caregivers are underpaid, their motivation drops, and unfortunately, that affects how they handle the children. Some may even vent their frustrations on the very children they care for,” said Iwalani. “This has a long-term impact on children’s emotional and social development,” she explained.

The study also pointed to low education levels among domestic workers as another key challenge, indicating that many have not completed primary school and lack formal training in childcare. “Training institutions for domestic workers are very few in the country,” Iwalani added. “Even when available, most workers can’t afford the fees or time to attend.”

“The majority of these workers are responsible for caring for children aged 0 to 5 years, but due to low pay and poor working conditions, the quality of care provided is often compromised,” reads the study findings in part.

Interestingly, the research found that when domestic workers receive training and certification, they tend to demand higher wages—making them unaffordable to many parents. “This creates a dilemma,” noted Iwalani. “If they are untrained, children receive poor care; if they are trained, most families can’t afford to hire them.”

However, as a way forward, stakeholders in the childcare sector and NGO-CCR as an umbrella body, are calling on the government to strengthen the enforcement of the minimum wage and to review it in line with the rising cost of living.

They further recommend the introduction of affordable, short-term training programmes that would equip domestic workers with basic childcare and household management skills without requiring expensive licensing.

“These trainings should also include information on workers’ rights and where they can report abuse or unfair treatment,” Iwalani said. “If we can combine fair pay with proper training, everyone wins—the parents, the children, and the workers themselves.”

According to the study, 89 percent of childcare domestic workers are women, underlining the gendered nature of domestic work and its connection to broader issues of women’s economic empowerment and labour justice.

WUSC Malawi Country Director Godfrey Mphande highlighted the need for more investment in the childcare sector.

He said: "80 percent of a child’s brain development happens between the ages of 0 to 2. Therefore, if we don’t invest in quality early childhood development, we compromise on the future of our children.”

Stakeholders from government ministries, NGOs, and other sectors participated in the event, sharing their insights on shaping practical and sustainable pathways for the transformation of the paid childcare sector.

The event also provided a platform for networking and collaboration with government, civil society, the private sector, development partners, and other key stakeholders.

With funding from Global Affairs Canada, WUSC and WOLREC are implementing the four-year ACT project in Lilongwe and Blantyre, with a focus on strengthening women’s economic participation and improving the quality and availability of childcare.