Government will this year review the employment Act and come up with improved and innovative approaches towards enforcing the labour laws in the country.
Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Ngosa Chisupa disclosed that the labour law reform process will be expected to meet the aspiration of the Zambia decent work programme which was launched in 2007.
Mr. Chisupa noted that these revised law reforms will create a conducive environment for workers and employers in the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE’s) for the development of the country.
He pointed out that the current global financial crisis is likely to reduce employment levels in the formal sector.
He was speaking when he officiated at the “Law –Growth Nexus” workshop in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr. Chisupa cited the mining industry as one of the sector that has recorded massive job cuts following the global economic meltdown, which has also affected Zambia.
He further disclosed that government will continue to come up with statutory instruments on minimum wages in order to guide employers on the minimum wage requirements and protection of employees against exploitation.
And speaking earlier, International Labour Organization (ILO) Director for Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, Gerry Finnegan said MSE’s play an important role towards the economic growth of the country because they provide employment.
Mr. Finnegan noted that there was need for government to review the law reforms in order to attract more MSE’s in the country.
He explained that an improved employment Act is likely to create a conducive environment for doing business and thereby contribute to the growth of the economy of the nation.
He further urged government to ensure that it promotes a decent working environment for vulnerable groups such as women, men and children in society, adding that this can increase production of workers’ out put.
And Zambia Federation of Employers Executive Director, Harrington Chibanda, called on the government to embrace the informal sector saying it plays a vital role towards job creation in the country.
Mr. Chibanda added that there is also need for the private sector to help government find lasting solutions to the current job losses cause by the global economic crunch.
He added that this can lead to achieving sustainable economic growth for the nation.
He further commended the ILO for the workshop saying this will help stakeholders involved in job creation understand the importance of creating an enabling environment for workers in the country.
ZANIS/MM/AM/ENDS
Ok! do that fast!
atase, where have you been all along.
Start by paying the teachers
Start by paying the civil servants decent salaries! its part of the decent work programme
hope nyama soya is not dozing
Firstly fire those employed under the family tree Act of 2001-2008
Talk is cheap…act now and review the conditions that the so called foreign investors have exploited at the expense of ordinary Zambians particularly the mine sector. While forein investment is good, the money leaving the country is huge and jeorpadises or retards economical growth and overall, development. Copper contributes tonnes to the country’s GDP and now that the copper prices are falling, we are busy giving it away…giving away our lives. Do not just talk…sort it out and do it now, damn!! :-w
Good News!! :d
Govt is reviewing the Act this year after so many years. Since the process is lengthy, I dont see anything positive coming out this year or next year.
The P.S just wants to excite the public.
We need action now,we have heard of talks like that and it all ends right there.Where has the gorvernment been all this time to let infestors lay off our people because of the dropping copper prices but when they made profits they never employed?Hope it will work this time other wise we are tired of the hearing workshops and meetings that do not yield any fruit,act now.
Am l-).
Okay. Let’s put your rhetorics to meaningful and workable solutions that will benefit the common worker down trodden by their employers despite having in place unfair but quite good labour laws that are never followed at will.
There is need to revise the minimum wage coz the one we have in place is a clearly insulting.
Take time to look at how companies owned by indians are treating workers and the way they are paid you cann’t like, before you make any changes on labour laws. pls help as we have rely suffered.
Mr Permanent Secretary – Mind the Bad Breath.
Rat!
We need action not just mere talk talk like in the past. Did you realise that indegenous Zambian employers are the worst culprit in terms poor conditions of service. How many times has the Ministry of Labour & Social security been visting work places, say within Lusaka.
There is much the PS can do by consulting widely.
Napsa is planning to put up a modern shopping complex opposite Lusaka Central Police yet Lusaka City Council is encouraging such investors to erect new shopping malls on the outskirts of the city. Do the people in authority consult each other.
The other thing Napsa should bear in mind is not to dry up the coffers at the expense of contributors like was case with NPF.
I hope this time around something sensible will come up. Labour laws in the MMD gvnt were very weak. Workers were left out to fend for themselves at hands of these cruel investors who are here to steal money. Workers are working as casual workers for a long time and at the end of he day being laid off without any benefits. Let them look into casual laboring and low salaries for workers. A law should be passed on this one please ba bwana minister.
My other question to the permanent secretary is ‘are the current employment followed?’I ask this because I have seen people working for more than 6 months without confirmation and salaries are peanuts,what is the gorvernment doing about the current labour laws?
And pliz ensure that u hav qualified staff mu boma.Not pipo who dnt knw how 2speak english.U request for help from a boma worker,humbly sayin kindly open tht door 4me. Bakwasuka ati go and knock on that doors,ninshi nabameka ba lady.
Hope this will improve our ‘infected’ salaries
#6, I am wondering,are you the “infamous” former first lady we know? 😕
Good news hope this is real
Talking is simple manje implementation mwe banthu itibvuta.
We as zambians must be seen to improve the welfare of our zambia and such is the desired trend walasa!
We have frail labour laws in Zambia. It is not uncommon to find that some workers in certain bakeries are constantly locked up when baking bread, cakes or even buns so that they don’t pass them on to the outsiders.
Also, some Indian and Chinese ‘investors’ pay Zambian workers K50,000 (U$10)per month for the strenuous work they do to them!This is very inhuman to say the least!!! ([-([-([-
Woe will be the Chinese, Lebanese and Indians for they will be undone!!
# 23, congrats for being inaugurated yesterday!!:d:d:d
#20 yebo, she be the one
Embrance social security by empowering citizens in all sectors and not only foreign investors.
Bloggers, please where is Bun Dem Dread?! 🙁
JOKE OF THE NIGHT:
Queen Elizabell, Bill Climpton and Robert Umagabe die and go to hell. But the devil has only one phone there.
Queen says, I miss my England can I use your phone and hear how my people are doing down there.
She calls and talks about five minutes. Then she asks:
Well devil, how much do I owe you for the call? The devil says: Five million pounds.
She writes him a cheque and goes back to her chair .
Climpton wants to make a call too. He says I wanna call the US . He talks about ten minutes, then asks how much do I owe you
devil? The devil says :
Ten million dollars He also writes a cheque and goes back to his seat.Umagabe is jealous. He says I want to call Z
at last mmd is talking sense itlong overdue. i think they got a fright from Sata
Anyone interested in getting a new passport forms for the new passport without having to go through the hassle of TRAVELLING to ZED, Please contact. [email protected].
Thankyu
laws should favour zedians,tax foreigners, and have a living wages,bamwenye ba folesha maleza. **==**==