Labour and Social Security Minister, Joyce Simukoko has advised Labour officers and district administrations to be proactive in providing solutions to labour issues raised by workers within their jurisdictions.
Mrs Simukoko says labour officers should promptly resolve labour matters reported to them before seeking her office to directly intervene.
Mrs Simukoko said this during her fact finding mission at Huan-Cheng Manganese Refinery Company in Kapiri Mposhi district after the workers at the company complained of non-attendance to their plight even after reporting to labour officers at district and provincial level.
Speaking on behalf of other workers, Cephas Simbeye told the Minister that the workers had no proper protective clothing and were subjected to wages as low as K30 per day which is below the minimum wage.
Mr Simbeye disclosed that employees had no signed contracts and were not entitled to day-offs.
“We have reported these issues to the labour office and the DC, but nothing has changed so we are happy that you have come,” Mr Simbeye said.
And Mrs Simukoko took Central Province Labour Officer, Jenipher Shamabanse and District Commissioner, Smart Mwila to task for not promptly attending to labour issues reported to them by the workers at the company.
Mrs Simukoko said labour officers at provincial and district levels have been empowered to address numerous labour related issues at workplaces and should not always rush to her office.
“It is your responsibility and that is why, you are there. Before, you come to the minister do something. You should have local solutions to these problems because you are empowered,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ms Simukoko has challenged employees to acquaint themselves with the employment code and the country’s labour laws before agreeing to be engaged to render their services.
She noted that most of the labour issues being experienced in the country were emanating from lack of understanding of labour laws by employees.
Mrs Simukoko further appealed to trade unions to educate employees on the country’s labour laws.
“Take interest and know what you are getting into before agreeing to be engaged. Trade unions also should come in and help to educate workers on labour laws,” Ms. Simukoko said.
Mrs Simukoko was accompanied by Central Province Minister, Sidney Mushanga, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Mukamasole Kasanda, District Commissioner Smart Mwila and other senior government officials.
But being humble at times is not good, so president Lungu is happy with the performance of this woman, what has she done that has benefited the ill treated Zambian workers.
Dull and corrupt. lDlOTlC pillock. You are one of the reasons President Lungu might fail to go through come August.
SHIFTING THE BLAME TO LABOUR OFFICERS-What happened to the mayor of Lusaka when he attempted to intervene in labour related issues in his jurisdiction?
Mama, with due respect, you have been sleeping on your job.
Some of you may have seen the malicious article published by those dogs at zambian watchdog. Apparently I have a Russian wlfe and child. I think even a confused man would know that such an article is inaccurate and a bunch of lies. This is reason why we are introducing cyber bill. Zambia watch dog know that their days are numbered when this bill is enacted. So they are now trying to tarnish my name because I fought hard to bring this bill to the table. I will not let you bring me down
Simukoko is another utterly dull and inept hen busy farting in the office and reading newspapers all day..only active at PF rallies with Jean “The Mukula Queen” Kapata. These are Lazy Lungu’s ministers
The most classic adage regarding trolling is, “Don’t feed the trolls.” Trolls seek out emotional responses and find provocation amusing, so replying to them or attempting to debate them will only make them troll more. By ignoring a troll completely, they will likely become frustrated and go somewhere else on the internet.
You should try your best not to take anything trolls say seriously. No matter how poorly they behave, remember these people spend countless unproductive hours trying to make people mad. They’re not worth your time of day.
Does this woman exist?
We suffer in the hands of foreigners while you protect them.
Each company with its labor rules that does not favor the locals.
It is amazing how former union leaders let down workers when they are given high positions in government. Look at how FTJ messed up our unions when he became president-by fragmenting them into toothless bulldogs. Today there are many unions for the teaching, mining and other industries. Foreign investors are now laughing at us because their countries can’t let them do what they do to our workers here. Local district labour officers are scared to act because they fear to loose their jobs- due to these foreign investors’ connections with senior government leaders. Simukoko must just sanction the erring companies, and stop blaming the poor workers for not refusing to be employed under bad conditions- even if they have no food in their homes. This is an insult. It is her responsibility to…