JCTR urges unions to speed up negotiations for new conditions with Government

THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has urged the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to speed up the negotiations with the Public service unions for new conditions.

JCTR Livingstone Regional officer George Makaha said there was need for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to speed up the negotiations with the Public service unions for new conditions.

Mr Makaha said through genuine exchange of ideas, the new conditions of service can be seen as one that does not work in isolation but in harmony with other policies.

He said this in a press statement released in Livingstone at the weekend.

Mr Makaha hoped the negotiations for new conditions of service would be tied to the JCTR Basic Need Basket (BNB) to ensure that all employees manage to access the basic needs for decent life of workers.

The cost of living for month of March 2015 as measured by JCTR Livingstone BNB for an average family of five living in Livingstone is K3, 101.49.

This shows an decrease of K56.83 is mainly attributed to the decrease in prices of the following items; Charcoal, tomatoes and Vaseline.

Mr Makaha also said JCTR welcomed the move by the President Edgar Lungu led Government to lift up the wage freeze.

He said the move would have an positive impact to civil servant workers, as there would be increased income and improved access to better nutrition, education, health and ultimately reduced income poverty.

“The Basic Needs basket has constantly demonstrated the gap between the cost of living and salaries of some workers.

“This evidence has pointed to the need for more disposable income to enable workers’ families lead a dignified human life,” he said