Zambia Workers Demand More than Speeches

LUSAKA — Zambia’s Labour Day commemorations exposed growing pressure on workers battling rising living costs, wage frustrations and job insecurity, while political leaders used the occasion to push competing messages about economic progress just months before the country heads into general elections.

President Hakainde Hichilema, speaking during Labour Day commemorations in Chinsali, urged employers to resolve workplace grievances before they escalate into strikes, arguing that industrial harmony remains critical to productivity, investment confidence and long-term job creation. He said successful businesses depend on motivated workers and called for dialogue between employers and employees as the country attempts to sustain economic recovery efforts.

Vice-President Mutale Nalumango expanded that message by warning that artificial intelligence, digital transformation and climate-related economic disruptions were creating new risks for workers. She said government remained focused on protecting jobs while expanding social protection systems, citing debt restructuring progress, public recruitment efforts and broader economic reforms as part of efforts to stabilise livelihoods.

But labour unions used the same platform to press government on deeper economic realities facing ordinary workers. Zambia Congress of Trade Unions first deputy president Joseph Chewe praised government for restoring social dialogue and expanding public sector recruitment but said private sector workers continued facing challenges around union representation, collective bargaining and workplace protections.

The strongest economic demand came from the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions, which called for government to reduce Pay As You Earn tax to improve workers’ take-home income. Labour leaders argued that workers are increasingly struggling to keep up with food prices, transport costs, housing expenses and broader household financial pressure despite maintaining formal employment.

Government officials also used the Labour Day platform to strengthen broader political messaging. Information Minister Cornelius Mweetwa urged workers to think carefully about the August 13 election, arguing that their votes would shape Zambia’s future economic direction. He pointed to job creation linked to mine reopenings and revived businesses as evidence that economic recovery efforts were producing results.

Beyond formal employment, labour concerns continue extending into Zambia’s vast informal sector, where traders, small-scale entrepreneurs and marketeers remain vulnerable to economic shocks without formal labour protections. That broader pressure helps explain why wage issues, taxes and employment opportunities are becoming increasingly central political issues as campaigns approach.

With election campaigns accelerating, Labour Day showed that workers are no longer satisfied with symbolic speeches alone. They want stronger wages, lower tax pressure, job security and clearer evidence that economic reforms are improving household realities. Those demands are likely to become far louder as political campaigns intensify across the country.