Minister of Labour and Social Security Austin Liato has called on employees in the country to join unions for them to be well represented on labour issues.
Mr. Liato said employers should ensure that they join existing unions if their problems are to receive the necessary attention from relevant authorities in the country.
He was speaking in Lusaka last evening at the second Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) award giving ceremony held at Taj Pamodzi Hotel.
Mr. Liato also expressed sadness at the shooting of some workers at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district recently by two mine managers.
He said that government is handling the matter and will soon be reaching a conclusion that will ensure that the incident does not repeat itself.
Mr Liato further said his Ministry will start sensitizing employers in the country on how to treat their workers.
And ZFE Director George Chabwera expressed sadness at the shooting of workers at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe District recently.
Dr. Chabwera said his organization regrets what happened in Sinazongwe and that it should never be the case between employers and employee
ZANIS
Very condescending! Very rare do we see employers asking employees to join unions. This tells us the levels of unionism in Zambia by statement of this (former unionist turned free-market economy chief advocate) who was known as a firebrand but was also ‘eating’ with management! The MUZ are still sleeping and they need this former firebrand to wake them up!
union or no union workers must be protected. the problem in zed you dont act until there is a catastrophie. these ministers, i doubt if they fully understand their responsibilities other than that of serving RB.
Labor Minister Austin Fatiato
how about some govt employees who are not allowed to have a union like the zambia police service,prisons service,immigration,DEC etc,does it mean that they will not be well represented ?If so why can’t the govt give them the chance to form unions also for proper representation,look at their condition of service,their accomodation problems to mention but a few.Why can’t we take a leaf from South Africa
Well,it’s good to be a member of a trade union but often in zed it doesn’t help much because the union leaders themselves are secretly bribed by the govt and company Management to shut up when they should be talking,am sure Liato knows better,he was union leader when he worked for ZESCO where he abused power and was very powerful thanx to the support and financial benefits he got indirectly from Management,the man held a junior accounting role but had so much power and wealth till he and his colleagues were relieved of their duties due to the same abuse.
Well join the Union make noise and if you lucky get a head of state daughter in the family way and end up Minister…not a Majorstar….eat with both hands and you can be Nonde-Simukoko, Hikaumba or even Liato….you never know..