Government has cautioned human resource practitioners to desist from flouting the country’s labour laws.
Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale says a well-managed industrial relations environment contributed greatly to sustainable industrial peace in the country.
“As government we expect all human resource managers in the country to appreciate and correctly interpret the labour laws and advise their employers accordingly. In this regard, we are urging all employers to engage qualified Zambians as human resource managers,” he said.
Dr Hamukale said in Livingstone today at the 2017 Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management (ZIHRM) Annual General Meeting at Avani Victoria Falls Resort.
He said it was evident the Institute was one of the major national stakeholders as its members were the ones strategically positioned to foster good industrial relations by promoting dialogue among parties involved in employment relations.
“You are there as a professional body whose members are not mere custodians of disciplinary codes and faithful keepers of employment contracts but people who should play a strategic role in Zambia’s business environment,” he said.
Dr Hamukale further stated that as indicated in the objectives of the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management Act number 11 of 1997, the Institute was critical in the development of the country and particularly in improvement of productivity in various organizations.
“As you are certainly aware, the greatest asset any country has is its human capital. Therefore, the success of our nation will depend on the quality of human resources available,” he said.
He called on the Institute to offer expert advice to government as it had the responsibility to formulate a national human resource policy to promote and support its economic and social activities
