Striking casual workers at Green Belt Fertiliser (GBF) Zambia Limited in Mazabuka have finally resumed work after management increased their off loading and loading fees from K 110 to K 140 per bag.
GBF Mazabuka operations manager, Peter Barker confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka today.
Mr Barker said management decided to increase the loading fees per bag to K 140 in order to motivate workers, who have been protesting and demanding improved conditions of service for a long time now.
He said the increment represents a 30 per cent hike from the previous fees.
He said industrial harmony was necessary to foster production, adding that his company would do everything possible to improve conditions of services for his staff.
Over 160 casual workers last Thursday staged a protest demanding an increment in the loading and off loading fees at the company.
The workers also complained of poor working environment noting that their management has not even provided them with protective clothing.
The casual workers said they were forced to handle chemicals used in the production of fertiliser without any gloves, gumboots and other protective clothing.
They have since called on the District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba to intervene.
ZANIS/HC/KSHJ/ENDS
Wecalo, is that increase enough as well? So, for someone to get 140pin one has to lift a thousand bags? Well, I think such people are will break their spines for peanuts. Too sad we have a labour ministry that is toothless.
Thats not much!! They should have given them 200!!
bane mwali konsa. Heey, this is hard labour indeed. 140 X 100 = 14 pin (=2.50 US$): ha kanya mpuku. OMG. This is really cheap labour as compared to using expensive machineries to handling the bags. I can imagine the (capital + operating costs)/day. Can that be equal to what is paid out to the casual workers or translate to a wage rate of 140/5500 US$/bag? Labour intensive or capital intensive + labour regulation? Heath effects: bane mukakota bwangu or die fast due to exposure.
casual workers, ha? there’s nothing casual about this kind of work. how much do these bags weigh anyway? and just for arguments sake, you have to atleast offload/load 50 bags to make atleast K7000 a day X 7 DAYS=k49000/ week. bread baskest @ K760,000.00! pheeeeeeeeeew!
We’ve jokers in jokers in our Government. 140/bag is a mockery in todays era and age. Let RB and Liato wake up please. I beg!!