Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia workers today staged a protest demanding that government should release money for the fertilizer the company produced this year under the Fertilizer Suport Programme.
The workers who refused to work are also demanding to be paid their three months salary arrears threatening to paralyzed operations at the plant if the funds are not released.
The angry workers told ZANIS in Kafue at the plant that it is difficult for them to understand why government is subjecting workers to such treatment when funds were available.
The workers who refused to be addressed by union officials demanded that management should tell them their fate and future of the company instead of wasting their time.
The workers have refused to accept any salary arrears of less than three months.
National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) President Seth Paradza told ZANIS that efforts to get in touch with company Chief Executive Officer Richard Soko failed as he was reported to be in a meeting with Agriculture Permanent Secretary Dr. Samuel Mundia in Lusaka.
Mr. Paradza explained that government had signed a letter for the partial release of the money to pay workers salaries but wondered why the money was not released.
He said workers have vowed not to report for work because there is no way they can be celebrating Christmas without being paid their money.
Mr. Paradza stated that it is not easy to produce 30,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer in six months and meet the deadline.
