Thursday, March 28, 2024

Shamenda advise workers not to listen to UPND call for boycott

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Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda (right) and Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) General Secretary Roy Mwaba
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda

LABOUR and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has advised workers in the country not to listen to cheap politics which some politicians are propagating over this year’s Labour Day Celebration which falls on Friday this week.

Mr Shamenda said in a telephone interview on Monday that the workers should not get confused with politicians mixing the industrial matters with politics.

The minister stated that politicians must not mix the labour matters with politics stating that the country cannot development if the two were put together.

He said there was need for workers in the country to turn up in large numbers to celebrating the May Day.

“It is very, very unfortunate that politicians are using cheap politics by asking workers such as civil servants to boycott this year’s labour celebrations. Let me encourage the workers to turn up in large numbers in celebrating the Labour Day,”Mr Shamenda said.

The minister has also warned companies and various institutions that the Government would criminalise any employer found abrogating the labour laws.

He said various institutions and companies must follow the Patriotic Front manifesto of pro-poor in ensuring that casualisation was completely dealt with in the country.

Last week, UPND-Chairperson for Labour Percy Chanda urged all workers to boycott this year’s Labour Day celebrations and instead deliver the message to Government that change was needed.

Mr Chanda said boycotting this year’s Labour Day celebration would be sending a very strong message that workers were not happy about the wage freeze, the employment freeze and the continual reversal of position regarding the retirement age.

Meanwhile, the Civil Servant and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) says it does not support calls by some sections of society asking public service workers to boycott this year’s Labour day celebrations.

CSAWUZ Secretary General Joy Beene told ZANIS in an interview in Chavuma today that civil servants view Labour Day as a platform where they can interact with government and private companies concerning the plight of workers.

Mr. Beene said boycotting the Labour day celebrations will result in workers losing the opportunity to communicate with their employers on issues affecting them adding that labour leaders will not entertain those advocating for workers to shun the labor day celebrations.

He also observed that the day has nothing to do with politics and called on civil servants to turn up in large numbers on May, 1st.

And Mr Beene has appealed to civil servants to be productive and avoid reporting late for work.

He said workers should ensure they put in their level best to serve the community by offering good and quality service delivery on behalf of the government.

5 COMMENTS

  1. PWhat will a boycott achieve?

    Citizens are better off supporting their gov’ts economic policies to quickly put right it’s performance, which in turn will see their salaries corrected.

    Damaging your economy by massive strikes and negative actions will bring nothing forward.

  2. @ Patriot Abroad

    I agree with you about strikes (at least for now).

    But please give me one HONEST reason why and what shall I celebrate?
    More worthless coins “in my pockets”?
    Reasonably low official inflation which ignores reality on store shelves?
    Astronomical “spread” between deposit rates and secured loan rates which really “promote” local entrepreneurship?
    Constant pronouncements about “ruthless” fight against corruption which is failing in its existence?
    Unlimited choice of well paid jobs or even badly paid ones or ANY jobs?
    Please, tell me one REAL and ACTUAL reason why and WHAT shall a WORKER has to celebrate?

  3. the calls are there year in year out and no single worker has ever boycotted labour day what with the incentives of suits and spanking new shoes. let his workers boycott labour day as he continues yapping and trying to seem relevant

  4. PF is just a failed party. They do not inspire. GBM was right when he said that there is no light at the end of the tunnel in Zambia. It is like we are in the middle of nowhere.

    God help us!!!

  5. We dont mind these crying babies we are used to the noise.Bwana minister we are going to participate whether they like it or not.if their boycott is genuine let them not report for work on monday we ll see if they dont enjoy their jobs.

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