Opposition UPND Member of Parliament (MP) Cornelius Mweetwa has urged government to lift the two-year wage and employment freeze imposed by government on the public service workers
Mr. Mweetwa notes that the freeze implies that government did not appreciate the efforts of the civil servants.
As a mover of motion on urging government to lift the wage freeze imposed on the public service in 2014, the opposition MP said in parliament today that the price of commodities was allegedly rising yet salaries for civil servants was static.
MMD Chembe MP Mwansa Mbulakulima seconded the lift wage freeze motion.
Various stakeholders among them opposition political parties, churches and civil society organizations have received the imposition of wage freeze by government with mixed feelings.
And contributing to the debate in the House, UPND Monze MP Jack Mwimbu said Zambia is a member and signatory to the convention of International Labour Organisation, (ILO).
Mr. Mwimbu said the wage freeze in conflict with industrial Relation Court Act Cap 269 of the laws of Zambia adding that the trade unions in Zambia not consulted.
Mr. Mwimbu, who laid down Judgment number 145/1999 on the table before the National Assembly Speaker, Dr. Patrick Matibini accused Government of not caring for the 200,000 civil servants.
The Monze law-maker observed that history had repeated itself to what the previous MMD government under president Frederick Chiluba did in 1998 when it imposed a wage freeze on the civil servants.
“History is repeating itself to what the former MMD government did 16 years ago in 1998. It’s not fair to impose a wage freeze on public service workers and it means the PF Government is not for you,” Mr. Mwimbu said.
But Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda says it is not possible to reverse the wage freeze given the strained budgetary situation of government.
Mr. Chikwanda said that the national treasury could not afford another increment for public service workers after the high increase given to public service workers last year.
The Minister defended wage freeze saying 14 months is not too long a time before the wage freeze imposed on the civil service is lifted.
Mr. Chikwanda recently said in Lusaka when he opened a Zambia Congress of Trade Union workshop that the wage moratorium was only meant for 2014 and 2015.
He added that his plea to the trade unions is for them to realize that government’s action is upon resource availability.
He said that going forward the Patriotic Front government wants to correct structural imbalances where 70 percent of the national budget goes towards emoluments and related factors.
However ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba said that the planned countrywide demonstrations would go ahead in order to show government that the work force is very displeased with the wage freeze.
There is a looming showdown on government operations from the public service workers to paralyze government with union leaders piling pressure over the wage freeze urging government to reverse the infamous illegal wage freeze.
PF has no money,period !!!
Yeah right!. PF has no money because it’s leaders stole all the money it got from the bonds and piled it away in off shore accounts.
So its gonna be more and more borrowing again.
PF is a complete disaster . I can not wait for it be booted out in 2016.
PF ‘ s political gimmick is fast back firing. How does this stupid lying government by liars expect people to understand the essence of a wage freeze when the cost of living has sky rocked and gobbled the meagre wage increase ,and is now digging into their income before wage increase was effected.
PF’s aim is to increase people’s wages in 2016 as part of sympathy vote buying. Unfortunately, people wont have it, just like they did under MMD and UNIP in their last days.
ZCTU should not only demonstrate against the wage freeze but the whole range of atrocities being committed by the PF across all the sectors, such,as 200% hospital fee increase, lack of funds for student bursaries, non payment of farmers , high cost of living, political intolerance and PF’s lying habit.
PF =…
No ‘wage freeze lift’ in an election year as some gullible voters will be swayed to vote impulsively!This should be adhered to by all radical & rational citizenry! The cost of living has surely gone up due to high costs of all consumables for example 2kg sugar is now selling at k16.00 from k14.00 & many others & then the so called pro poor government which is governing Zambia using the Ten Commandments is perceiving unprecedented development worth celebrating.One most vivid annoying phenomenon is that all pressure groups are just watching as if they are not there including our judiciary & MPs-they needed to do more than just mare issuing statements & no follow ups!
This govt is building and when building we sacrifice. Those who want to sacrifice with this govt now is the time. When all is done we shall be saying that hospital was built when we sacrificed salary increament. JOIN THE BUILDING TEAM
the low value of our currency is more worrisome than the increase in our salaries i think that’s what good mps must concentrate on we almost buy everything out side and the prices going up we need money with value not more money