Management at Shoprite Checkers has dismissed all striking workers in all the outlets across the country.
Sources have disclosed that the move follows a countrywide strike action by employees demanding for the payment of their past service arrears.
Sources have further revealed that all shops countrywide have since been closed with immediate effect in order for management to sort out the issue.
Efforts to get a comment from Shoprite Deputy General Manager Charles Bota proved futile as his phone went answered.
And a Check by a QFM Reporter at Shoprite Manda hill branch found workers singing songs of solidarity at the shop’s
[ QFM ]
This is very sad news, surely how to fire people for asking for the labour law to be honored. God serve Zambia. I urge Zambians to protest shoprit e goods.
Shame on you shoprite!!Those that work at at till are exposed to millions of kwacha everyday and luxury goods that they dont even have in their homes,working long hours..& then paid a meagre k600,000,with the company always posting collassal profits,year by year,SHAME!!For once,mr RB,please show some leadership & sort out the boers who think we are 2nd class human beings.Morever,the only benefit we have from them are our nationals being employed but if they are being ill treated let shoprite pack and go!
This is Rupiah Banda’s MO. Remember what happened to the nurses?
There is no respect for employees in Zambia
this has gone very far now..how the hell on earth..?we shud close their shops !
#2 Nubian Princess, is that how naive u are that every unrelated issue must be blamed on RB, give the man a break, issues that are not political must be politicized.
# 4 Realist – Echo your name. The rule in Zambia is fire striking workers. If your friend RB did just that to vital workers like nurses. You think he gives a darn about those shoprite workers. Dont be naive, you have no idea how these investors came to Zambia.
Did your Rupiah do anything about the miners shot by Chinese? No.
Open your eyes. Dont support people blindly.
Boycott Shoprite ! From now it should be called ShopWrong. Zambian love anything that is labeled Not-Made- In-Zambia,great shame !
This shows how weak our laws are. Even in the public sector, these guts would have still been fired. Lets tighten the labor laws so that these infesters can not be holding our brothers and sisters at ransom like this. Pls people Iam not RB’s fun, but this whole idea of shoprite was brought about by FTJ who ofcourse was working with his ministers which included MIchael Sata. Lets learn to fingures at the right people not the ones we just dont like.
Let us stop buying from shoprite, they have gone too much.
Where is the minister of labor? Workers have the rights to be heard. We are not slaves to Shoprite but people to be respected. Where is the president in all this? As long as these guys recieve contribution for their campaign, they are mute on workers’ rights! Maybe it is time to stop and ask, when are we going to be respected by these foreign compainies? Enough is enough!
Those are some of the challenges of a liberalised economy. There is little regard for employees especially in a country with weak labour laws like Zambia. The employer can even shoot the protesting workers at will and get support from the powers that be.
So correct me if I’m wrong but I was under the impression that the draft constitution which was rejected by PF provided an article for the establishment of an Industrial relations court where the workers would have taken their grievances to solve this labor dispute. That is the same constitution PF blocked in favour of Mr. Sata’s 1996 amendment which does not provide for an industrial relations court. This is very interesting.
On another note, it is very sad that the workers have been dismissed. Hopefully management will reach a compromise with the union and reinstate the workers.
Wrong Mr Capitalist we have already a IRC which heard some funny appointed laywer
Thanks for the correction @ #12 Easy
Liato has always supported foreigners while zambians are treated like dogs in their country.Shame on the labour movement,Hikaumba has failed the works thats why he opted to involve himself in the just failed NCC getting paid huge allowances while the workers he claims to represent get paid peanuts..what made UNIP go?it was strikes
Ba capitalist sometimes in yr blind loyalty for MMD/Rbish u come out very un-informed- In.relations Court has always been there -at kamwala.
On the other hand i think i understand u -u cant blog without mentioning Sata/PF,i bet he s also giving u spleepless nights.
#11,allow me to correct you because you are very wrong.Pf did not particularly oppose that article,they opposed the constitution making process,NCC.They instead preffered a C.R.C,as the latter wud have been & was too costly & would inexplicably help to keep the ruling party in power.
Ba QFM and LT, according to you story u say “Efforts to get a comment from Shoprite Deputy General Manager Charles Bota proved futile as his phone went answered.” if thats the case, where to u get the true story that all the Shoprite Workers have been fired! Am part of the high bosses from Shoprite! Dont live on rumors ala!
@ #15 Red Card-abena Libala South
You are right. I as a Zambian am very concerned about what this economy will become should the impossible situation happen that Mr. Sata becomes president. The mismanagement of the economy that a PF led govt would unleash on the Zambia economy is enough to give anyone sleepless nights so yes, he does give me sleepless nights.
@ #16 Concerned!
Thanks for the info.
Liato is in Livingstone enjoying at one of the resort places…………
RUPIAH ALMOST FIRED ALL THE NURSES WHEN THEY WERE ASKING FOR BETTER SALARIES AND HIS INVESTORS WERE WATCHING AS HE LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
OBVIOUSLY GOVT WILL SIDE WITH THE INVESTORS WHO MATTER MORE TO THEM.
PF IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WORKERS’ WELL BEING.
LETS CHANGE GOVT THIS YEAR.
This is what you get when you have a “PEASANT FARMER” cum “CHANCER” as a president. This moneky has no clue on how to run the economy, he’s busy asleep and bet doesn’t even know about this and the stupidity by MMD at Kamwala today.
Let’s all sort Rupiah out and bring sanity to this Country. Never again should Zambians be intimidated by the Infestors.
Thats why I like Robert Gabriel Mugabe.He doesnt torerate nonsense from the so called investors.
20 years of MMD this is what you still get. 20 years and some people still want to make noise that we are progressing, well maybe at a snails pace, ahhh even a snails pace is quicker. These guys came into power to reform and strengthen our laws/constitution, they have failed all Zambians whether you like them or not.
When you have weak leaders with weak labour laws that is the case.
Imwe don’t blame Michael
This is very sad news indeed. I have family members who work for Shoprite and their means of lively hood is Shoprite. If Shoprite fires all the striking workers and close all their shops, is that the best way to solve industrial disputes? they should go back to the table and solve all these disputes with the right union.
Napapa sana…
I worked at Zanaco and I was among the 300 people that were fired for going on strike. Its not new, Its only that I learnt a lesson from that. Never follow a mob if you have a family to feed. Iam glad now that I live in the US were increaments are made on merit to individuals and never collectively. Those people used to earn K600 000. now they will earn nothing and Shoprite will simply employ others that earned nothing to earn K 600 000. Who has the last lough.
Revolt Zambia, revolt raise and defend our future. Let vote out this *****s.
What goes arounds comes back around.RB started this trend of firing striking workers now the “investor” is doing the same.Shame :(
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REGISTER MY DISPLEASURE WITH HONOURABLE AUSTIN LIATO. THE TRUTH HAS TO BE TOLD, HE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB INVITING AND EXPLAINING LAWS TO INVESTORS BUT AS FOR SERVING WORKERS HE IS LACKING. ANYTIME THERE IS AN ISSUE, IT SEEMS HE IS RELUCTANT TO ACT IN FAVOUR OF WORKERS. LOOK AT SIMBAO, HE WAS IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION WITH KAPOKO, GLOBAL FUND AND STRIKING NURSES..BUT BECAUSE OF HIS GENUINE NATURE AND TRUE CARE YOU CAN SEE HOW WE ALL RESPECT HIM.
SOME MINISTERS ARE EVEN CHASED WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO MAKE SPOT CHECKS AT THE MINES…WHAT SORT OF LABOUR LAWS ARE THOSE IF FOREIGNERS CAN REFUSE YOU TO INSPECT CONDITIONS OF SERVICE THEY’RE OFFERING YOUR PEOPLE AND WHEN YOUR PEOPLE ARE IN PROBLEMS YOU DUCK???
Ok bane. Ws the strike legal or illegal? What do our laws say about strikes anyway?
Every action has consquences. There exist no legal strike in Zambia as per Zambian labour labour laws. He who goes on strike is at owners risk. Disimissals should not be a surprise they had to come and they came. I sympathise with shoprite workers for lack of knowledge. Please read law befor taking action. We should learn to comply with law whether bad or good untill our opposition MPs start behaving to change bad laws not only concentrating on 50 + 1
Whether the strike is legal or not legal, i think the point here is there is something wrong somewhere unless we want to pretend that we can not see. Please to the powers that be can you sit down and resolve this issue once and for all, it is not in the ball court of investors but in ourselves. we really need to change the attitude we look at issues. A lot of issues here leaves much to be desired. The Government, our own baby the trade union and the employers. This situation is telling us something “Do we have respect for our own people” What laws do we have in place to protect our own people in times like this??? Liato wake up!!!
If its true all unionized workers at Shoprite have been fired, am calling upon all concerned and well meaning Zambians to boycott shopping at this good for nothing Shopleft. People should not be taken for a ride, this is our country mwe bantu!
#33, when are they re-opening? I need to stock up on my groceries.
Its been reported that Shoprite has fired 1800 employees. Does the RB govt know that these are potential voters. RB for once show leadership and fire Liato. The workers have been demanding to have a pension scheme and the NAPSA Act is very clear on this issue. Every employer is mandated to contribute to the scheme. In fact we are supposed to be paying pension even for domestic workers (maids).
Mwandi! How come ba ECZ didn’t do this?
Its very sad development as far as am concerned these shop businesses be it Super, Black market, tu ntemba are suppose to be run by zambia. no need of importing shops for what? to embarrass the country and its leadership. they bring the economic and the profit to our mother land Zed.
This is really disturbing, how can you fire someone for demanding his or her dues? These big outlets make a lot of money so why is Shoprite management take an ill decision like that. Our labour laws should be strong in order to protect workers for such things in the near future.%%-
Shoprite is not a government departmental store. These are some of the effects of a free market. Shoprite if forced by the government to dimplemet conditions that will suit the voters can simply close down and reallocate. So those asking RB to intervene to enable him get more votes, think! Will that not be corruption. Is that what we want in our country, a situation where the goverment ‘buys’ votes by interfering in every matter. I noticed that these same workers were busy chanting anti-government slogans during their ‘industrial’ strike. Now it is the government’s fault that they have being fired. Pay heed to the advice of our colleague BUSAKILE MAN #26. I just hope that most of these workers get back their jobs.
Meant ‘implement’ and ‘not dimplemet’ in 39 above
Shame on you RB. Tuleitekafye, we have no president,no ministers.
If we had leaders, they will surely speak for the poor shoprite workers.
For Shoprite to take such action I am sure they consulted legal experts. The law must be applied equally on the employer as well as on the employee. Labour laws protect not only the workers but also the employer if the employer breaches labour laws he is punishable if the employee breaches labour laws he bears the consequences that’s law.
The rule of law must prevailotherwise every worker will decide to hold their employer for ransom by going on illigal indefinate strikes.
Ofcourse I can say all this because I still have a Job but on the flip side I feel sorry for the workers and pray that Govt will intervene coz jobs nowadays are as rare as diamonds
The story is simply not true. Its based on hearsay. Its not long before the shop starts operating normally.
When u pocket their money you compromise your fair judgement in settling a dispute as a Leader.The tenets of good leadership are not easy to achieve.Govt so far hs failed to give their position.May part of the chunk is still in cheque form meant for the convention.
Am told they have been called back for work.
#43 The topic here is about shoprite firing of striking workers. If this was an exam question then you should have been given a big “O”. Please lean to stick to the topic, This fora is good but let issues of politics remain where they belong Ok REFLECTIONS PHIRI and i think you are not Phiri because Phiri’s are Wise and can not think like you.
Most foreigners pay Zambians more than Zambians pay Zambians. That is a fact. Ask any domestic worker in Lusaka.
It seems as though the Ministry of Labour is backing Shoprite on this one.
The good news is that they have all been reinstated and will be given their arrears/benefits they were crying for.
Where is our plan B? They did it in tunisia, Eygt and libya. y CANT ZAMBIA BE NEXT.