The Malawi Congress of Trade Union has moved in to help 63 employees who supermarket Shoprite fired last week and will challenge their dismissal from the retail chain store.

MCTU Secretary General Robert Mkwezalamba says the company’s decision is unacceptable and has since engaged management over the matter.

“What Shoprite did is total exploitation and the company is not justified to fire people that way. We met Shoprite bosses yesterday (Monday January 31) and we’re meeting them again soon to discuss the way forward”, says Mkwezalamba.

Shoprite last week sacked the 63 workers for staging a strike to force the removal of one of their supervisors whom they accused of ill-treatment.

But Commissioner of Labor, Elias Zilikudondo said the industrial action by Shoprite staff was illegal.

“It was in breach of the law for the workers to continue their strike against a security manager accused by their colleague despite being told that the police were handling the matter,” Mr. Zilikudondo told Zodiak-online.

Shoprite claims it lost up to K45 million last week during the four days when employees were on strike.