Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba says people elected as union leaders should not use their positions to frustrate investors and those in management.
Mr. Kachimba says union leaders should contribute to the growth of their companies and ensure productivity continues.
He added that dialogue should be the direction which unions must take as opposed to work stoppages.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Kachimba, who was speaking to union representative at Lafarge Plc in Chilanga yesterday, said when the company makes losses and decides to start retrenching workers, union leaders will have no one to blame but themselves.
He said the role of unions should be part of management and contribute to the
efficient running of companies.
Mr. Kachimba said government’s role is that of coming in as a mediator when management and workers fail to reach a conclusion.
He also appealed to management to sensitize workers on reasons why it has decided to retrench
workers.
Mr. Kachimba said government is aware that management has laid out plans to reduce the work force at Lafarge and it is important that workers are prepared adequately for the exercise.
He said although government is discouraging the practice, if certain factors are contributing then it has no problem.
The labour deputy minister also commended Lafarge plc for having taking safety of workers as a priority.
He said it was gratifying that the company has been recognized internationally for its safety standards.
And Company Managing director Fola Esan thanked the minister for having found time to visit the plant and discuss with the workers’ representatives.
He said it was pleasing that the company has managed to create a good working relationship with government.
Mr. Esan said the company is also happy with the investment climate it is enjoying saying Larfage has continued to enjoy conducting its business and is doing fine in the country.
He said management will ensure that it addresses some of the labour issues that have arisen so that the workers’ morale does not affect productivity.
Mr. Esan explained that the plan to retrench some workers started last year with the Ndola plant where the company has since downsized the workforce.
He said factors such as modern machinery and technology which the company is using in its production does not require more people as it is now self automated.
Mr. Esan also said the company has decided to downsize the number of casuals and other supporting staff whose work can still be carried out by other workers in order to make the company more efficient and productive.
He disclosed that not more than 70 workers will be retrenched by April this year.
ZANIS
This director says the company is doing fine but why retrench workers if it is doing fine? They want to maximise their profits and Rupiah’s minister is happy for that. He is even warning union leaders not fight for workers’ plight for fear of scaring away investors. These MMD jokers puzzle me alot.They are ever on the side of the so called investors even when workers are being retrenched.
We need to change govt.
VOTE PF COME 2011.
These are the same politicians that are on ‘infestors” payrolls at the expense of the poor Zambian worker. Shame on you !
Sounds like these chaps are still living in a f.ools paradise. Always on the infester payroll and they do not care about Zambians who get peanuts at the end of the day. Get rich baNgwele; God will sort you out one day.
IGnorance by some pf bloggers is sickening me
Mr Kachimba, Zambian workers are the most unfairly treated in the world. Those of us who live out here see how the Chinese are given tough laws to adhere to, not what we see in Zambia. Miners were shot dead and you did not say nothing. You are just a jobseeker after all. We know you from Luanshya when you were almost broke. You are just as useless as those investors. You think your job is to protect your position at the expense of the people you are meant to serve. You also belong to the useless generation of Zambian leadership which thinks their stomachs and their children come first.
This Govt’s priorities are really misplaced. Whose interests are they protecting? They are supposed to work for us Zambians & not investors, now that their interests are to protect investors, they don’t deserve to be in Govt anymore. Zambians must make sure this MMD Govt goes this year. Investment entails job creation & not retrenchment on top of tax holidays, besides poor salaries & conditions of service. They support investors because they benefit from tax evasion that they help them with. Shame on MMD
govt acts like investors come to zed cos they love zambia and want to develop it. they come here to make money off our resources and market. govt should ensure that the rights of zambians are protected and that the country gets some decent/logical share of the profits.
some expatriate managers/employees get paid many times what zambians get and govt sees nothing wrong with this
That face looks evil just saying. Some thing sinister about that smile, something about that smile.
Iwe Kachimba. You are from Luanshya. What are you doing for workers in Luanshya who keep being played by the miners?
there is a Minister of Labor? What exactly does he do?
Iwe Simon tell us about your second wife who is a coloured woman.. where is Esther by the way?
You must be a loser
I disagree with Hon. Simon Kachimba on his allegations that union leaders are frustrating Investor’s and Management’s efforts in what? That is wrong because its the investors and senior management who are exploiting the workers and they change the rules. Like what happened at Shoprite how does a sane person aportion the blame on workers. Hon Kachimba should now start to mobilise and fight those who are discrediting him at Maposa and Fisenge areas of his constituency. His statement on workers representatives at Lafarge is very unfortunate coz its timing is wrong Hon Liato worked hard to resolve the strike at Shoprite and before even ink dries he is on record doing the opposite. Do these leaders coordinate before making statements?
MMD Killed unionism in Zambia from the time of FTJ the new labour ministers seem to now be burying unionism
Who needs protection here?
1. Investors shoot at Zambians – they go scot-free
2. Investors beat up Zambians – GRZ ignores
3. Investors insult Zambians – GRZ ignores
4. Investors abuse Zambians – Labour Ministry ignores
5. Investors overwork Zambians – Labour Ministry ignores
6. Investors lock up Zambians at places of work – Labour Ministry ignores
7. Investors send Zambians underground without protective clothing – Labour Ministry ignores
8. Investors cheat ZRA and Zambia out of tax
9. Investors externalize resources leaving Zambia poor
10. Investors have no social responsibility in the areas of operation!!!!
The Zambian worker has continued to pay high taxes from his/her meagre salary while investors soak in profits!
I can’t believe this. lafarge runs to GRZ to help them send 70 people onto the street after making K232billion after tax profit last month!!!!!!!!!!!.. I dont get it. these people cost nothing to the company..
Kachimba you go and work at Shoprite or Lafarge and then say these things again. Atase
The topic starter have a unique vision~~~ the level can not be reached by each average person ~~ envy~~and appreciate ~~~lol~