CABINET has approved a bill to end casualisation in all the industries particularly in the mining sector.
Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda said casualisation would soon come to an end following the approval by Cabinet to put an end to casual employment.
Mr Shamenda said during the opening of the new National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) offices in Mufulira at the weekend that a new law would soon be enacted to end casualisation in all sectors of the economy, especially in the mining sector.
He said this would be done as part of the Patriotic Front (PF) manifesto on social security reforms which were currently underway.
“For all companies, especially in the mining industries, who are perpetually engaging workers on casualisation, we will soon be enacting a law and very soon casualisation is coming to an end.
“Cabinet has approved a bill to stop casualisation and the matter is going for publication in the gazette and later it will be tabled before Parliament, so all casuals will be permanent and will be members of NAPSA,” he said.
Mr Shamenda also said the retirement age had been adjusted upwards with the normal retirement age at 60, early retirement at 50 years and late retirement at 65 years.
He commended NAPSA on its relocation of offices as it demonstrated the commitment and importance it attached to the desire to meet the increasing demand and expectations of members in the mining town.
Last year, Government signed a Statutory Instrument which introduced the revocation of the exemptions on Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) from making contributions to NAPSA.
“The exemptions deprived employees at KCM and MCM from making contributions to NAPSA in terms of social security coverage from 2000 to last year. The issuance of the Statutory Instrument has now benefited miners particularly those working for MCM which was the biggest employer in Mufulira,” he said
Mr Shamenda implored employers on the Copperbelt to register all their eligible employees with NAPSA as mandated by law and also to ensure they complied by making remittances on behalf of their employees NAPSA Board chairperson Teddy Mulonga said the Authority had embarked on decentralisation of its operations by opening new offices in various towns.
He said plans were also underway to construct an ultra-modern office block in Mufulira which would contribute to infrastructure development.
He said NAPSA had opened customer service centres known as satellite offices to ensure efficient service delivery to the public
I personally feel all employees IRRESPECTIVE of their contractual status should be contributing to NAPSA. To read that casual workers have not been contributing since 2000 is pathetic.
Casuals will only stop when PF starts to own these companies. Otherwise why should a company owner take on workers on a permanent basis when he cannot fire them when PF messes the economy? Aki company ya maho.
@Buck Teeth Lungu haters going hate and innovaters going to innovate, you can not hang out with negative people like yourself Buck teeth Lungu and expect to live a positive life.
Why mines alone. Stop victimisation. All employers please