President Lazarus Chakwera will not assent to the labour relations Amendment bill that parliament passed a week ago.

Chakwera said this when he held an audience with the Malawi Congress of Trade Union (MCTU) at Kamuzu Palace in the capital Lilongwe.

MCTU Secretary Madalitso Njolomole disclosed this during a media briefing yesterday ahead of the cancelled national wide protests.

Njolomole said the President expressed shock that the bill had not undergone consultations before being taken to parliament.

The amended bill allows employees to go on strike only three days in a year if they have grievances with their employer.