Enforce the recently amended Employment Act to ease suffering among poor workers
On 26th November, 2015, President Edgar Lungu assented to the amended employment Act Cap 268. The new law bars casualization and unjustifiable termination of contracts of employment. The move by President Lungu received much accord from many major stakeholders including, the Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE), Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ), and Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia, (FFTUZ).
The much accord and happiness about the new law is because of the fact that Employers and other stakeholders are compelled to offer permanent tenure of employment where situations demand so and paying just wages. JCTR would like to see an end to exploitation and abuse of a Zambian worker and it is expected that exploitation and abuse of workers will now be a thing of the past beginning from 2016.
However, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR is urging urgent and serious implementation and non-selective enforcement of the new employment law if the good intents of the law are to be realized. Releasing the January 2016, Lusaka Basic Needs Basket (BNB), which stood at ZMW 4,201.04 compared to ZMW 4,371.76 in December 2015, the Centre observes that despite a minimal reduction in the cost of living necessitated mainly by reduction in the cost of Kapenta, households will continue to experience the challenges of the high cost of living, a situation which makes it difficult for most already poor households to afford things such as decent meals and services like clean water, etc.
The JCTR therefore says effective implementation of the amended law will assist many workers mitigate against the high cost of living which has been perpetuated by stagnant wages for most public and non-public workers.
JCTR further urges government to implement other measures that would protect the majority of people in the informal sector such as those selling tomatoes, Kapenta, etc. who are not catered for under the new amended law but are also struggling to cope with the increased cost of living.
The Centre notes that issues of minimum wage, casualization, unsafe working conditions and unjust wages have been among sticky issues of discussion in the country for a long time as these are areas that comprise workers’ and their families dignity. If these issues are addressed, there is high likelihood of improving the standard of living of workers and their families in the face of an ever increasing cost of living. The JCTR therefore urges that Government together with other key stakeholders such as the trade unions needs to ensure that the new legislation is effectively implemented.
