The Industrial Relations Court (IRC) was established in 1994 under
section 110(2) of the Malawi Constitution, as a court subordinate to the
High Court. It is a referral court mandated with the original
jurisdiction to hear and determine labour and employment disputes. In so
doing the IRC mission is to promote and protect labour and employment
rights through timely adjudication of disputes and providing litigants
with appropriate remedies. Its first case was registered in 1999 at the
Principal Registry in Blantyre and in 2002 the Chairperson and Deputy
Chairperson of the Court were appointed on full time basis.