Labour Deputy Minister, Simon Kachimba has challenged trade unions to expand their role and start negotiating for skills development at work places.
Mr. Kachimba said the unions should stop putting their focus only on bargaining for conditions of services for workers but help contribute to skills development for the future.
He said it is only through skills development that workers will enhance their productivity thereby being justified to demand for better conditions of services.
Mr. Kachimba said this in a speech read on his behalf by Assistant Labour Commissioner Simon Kapilima at the official launch of the first ever Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) branch at a private school at Licef School in Lusaka today.
He said trade unions should also not be seen as only bringing confusion at work places but should help in enhancing dignity.
Meanwhile, he has reiterated the need for school management to pay attention to the facilitation of dialogue between them and teachers to create a conducive environment.
The Deputy Minister also praised Licef school management for allowing its staffs to join the union adding that Government takes pride in the way they handle process of negotiations for salaries.
And ZNUT President Henry Kapenda has assured Licef management that his union is productivity orientated and will help its teachers in solving their challenges.
Mr. Kapenda said he will ensure that teachers put in their best so that this goes in line with the rewards.
He added that ZNUT will not compromise in ensuring that there is discipline among the teachers.
And speaking earlier, Licef Executive Committee Chairperson, Younus Essa said the joining of the union will ensure that employers and workers resolve grievances using established channels.
Mr. Essa said as a pioneer of private school education Licef has also made history by becoming the first private school to join a trade union in Zambia.
ZANIS
I beg to differ with you sir, on the contrary most unionized workers have practical skills and a vast number of years in service. That is why they negotiate for better conditions of service because of the effort they apply which is not handsomely rewarded.Labour is a factor of production as we all know! Speaking for the mining sector most of the unionized workers are damn skilled. ZCCM invested a lot in trade schools and training! Even today some companies like KCM still own a trade school. The problem in this country has not been skill but has always been poor salaries and wages