MINISTER of Information, Broadcasting and Labour Fackson Shamenda has appealed to public service workers to remain patient and allow for the smooth conclusion of negotiations for improved salaries and conditions of service.
Mr Shamenda said workers in the public service should not rush into an illegal strike but wait for Government and public service unions to conclude the bargaining process for new conditions of service.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Government is doing everything possible to ensure that negotiations are completed before the existing collective agreement expires this monthend.
“I want to assure our workers that we are doing everything possible to ensure that negotiations for improved conditions of service are concluded on time.
“I am also appealing to workers in the public service to remain patient and allow for the smooth conclusion of negotiations for a salary raise and improved conditions of service,” Mr Shamenda said.
He expressed confidence that the negotiations will be completed amicably and on schedule.
Mr Shamenda also warned the workers against going on an illegal strike, reiterating President Sata’s statement that all public service workers who would go on an illegal strike will be dismissed from the service.
“I want to state that any worker who will go on an illegal strike will be fired and any trade union which will allow its members to go on an illegal strike will be held accountable.
“We have to make sure that we conclude the negotiations so that we can prevent industrial unrest in the country,” Mr Shamenda said.
The minister also said he will soon meet trade union leaders to discuss the impasse surrounding negotiations for improved conditions of service for civil servants.
Meanwhile, THE Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) has urged Government to create more employment opportunities for young people around the country. ZFE executive director Harrington Chibanda said young people should have access to jobs for them to contribute to the country’s economic development.
Mr Chibanda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Zambia has high unemployment levels which he said is an unfortunate development especially for young people.
He said in his inaugural speech to Zambians after winning the September 20 elections, President Sata made it clear that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government would address the high unemployment levels among the youth in the country.
Mr Chibanda also called on all stakeholders in the country to work closely with Government in creating more job opportunities for young people. He said it is important for Government to partner with various stakeholders in the development process of the country and in improving young people’s living standards.
Meanwhile, Mr Chibanda has urged youths to engage in various entrepreneurship skills for them to earn a living. He said it is important for young people to gain entrepreneurship skills as this will enable them become self-employed.
Zambia today commemorates Youth Day under the theme: “Accelerating youth empowerment for sustainable national development”.
ZANIS
Talk is cheap, Does the minister has anything to show that these negotiations are actually going on. Shamenda what do you mean unions will be held accountable if workers go on strike? Stop making threats. I say minister take 50% salary cut to show how sincere they are.
Shamenda is a shameless BRUTE who weakened the Trade Union Congress by his divisive management style. His reign in the Trade Union Congress was puncuated by the birth of splinter Unions that weakened the bargaining power of unionised workers. Sata is exploiting Shamenda’s talent to break up the unions. By-the-way, someone can throw some light how Munyenyembe lost his precious life along the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriage way.
Shame on the PF government threatn civil servants wont take you anywhere just give them what is due to them. Nowounder civil servants are the most corrupt i dont blame them cause their salary cannt even be compared to sata’s son talk time allowance, and you are just busy @ state house talkn rubbish. The problem with you mr.president you thought runin a country is easy when you have failed to run yo own house, O what we have seen ever since you came into power iz movin yo carders from one ministrial post to the other without addressin the issue of poor civil servant. Its high time you asked mr.banda what zambianz are capable of doing. Remember 2016 is just tomorrow.
LOOK at his bred so dirty why cant he go have a shave first PF u are useless you promise a lot of things non of them have be four filed ati man of action he is man of dollars now
My friend, you look very untidy. Please go and bath
At the end of the day we will have the last laugh to all those that believed pf could be a govt to deliver. Chanda chimba warned u
If government increases salaries, it will not be more than 15%, and people are expecting 100%. There will surely be a strike, that am sure. No wonder shamenda is already warning civil savages from striking. It is foreseen.
What patience you fool. ! You talk as if you were not a unionist. Your behavior is not different from that of former and the president Chiluba
In more than 90 days we seen the devaluation of the kwacha at speed very alarming, only commissions of inquiry are being formed to ensure RB is caged?
@ 2 Mphangwe, please leave us to mourn our relative. We believe the Lord gives and takes away
Haaaaa:d….Fackson of all people you can threaten workers today? Oh how the mighty have fallen….
This is the result of tribal voting.The bembas voted for sata coz he is one of them.Now they are suffering under pf dictatorship with everybody else.come on pf give them 4 % as salary increment.