Government will this year review the employment Act and come up with improved and innovative approaches towards enforcing the labour laws in the country.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Ngosa Chisupa disclosed that the labour law reform process will be expected to meet the aspiration of the Zambia decent work programme which was launched in 2007.

Mr. Chisupa noted that these revised law reforms will create a conducive environment for workers and employers in the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE’s) for the development of the country.

He pointed out that the current global financial crisis is likely to reduce employment levels in the formal sector.

He was speaking when he officiated at the “Law –Growth Nexus” workshop in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr. Chisupa cited the mining industry as one of the sector that has recorded massive job cuts following the global economic meltdown, which has also affected Zambia.

He further disclosed that government will continue to come up with statutory instruments on minimum wages in order to guide employers on the minimum wage requirements and protection of employees against exploitation.

And speaking earlier, International Labour Organization (ILO) Director for Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, Gerry Finnegan said MSE’s play an important role towards the economic growth of the country because they provide employment.

Mr. Finnegan noted that there was need for government to review the law reforms in order to attract more MSE’s in the country.

He explained that an improved employment Act is likely to create a conducive environment for doing business and thereby contribute to the growth of the economy of the nation.

He further urged government to ensure that it promotes a decent working environment for vulnerable groups such as women, men and children in society, adding that this can increase production of workers’ out put.

And Zambia Federation of Employers Executive Director, Harrington Chibanda, called on the government to embrace the informal sector saying it plays a vital role towards job creation in the country.

Mr. Chibanda added that there is also need for the private sector to help government find lasting solutions to the current job losses cause by the global economic crunch.

He added that this can lead to achieving sustainable economic growth for the nation.

He further commended the ILO for the workshop saying this will help stakeholders involved in job creation understand the importance of creating an enabling environment for workers in the country.

ZANIS/MM/AM/ENDS

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) says suggestions to increase parliamentary seats should only be entertain with regard to rural constituencies.

CPD Executive Director Neo Simutanyi has challenged government to consider increasing parliamentary seats for rural constituencies only for effective implementation of developmental projects in rural districts.

Dr. Simutanyi charged that many rural constituencies in the country have been under developed because they are too vast for one Member of Parliaments (MP) to handle compared to those in urban areas.

He was reacting to proposals by the National Constitution making Conference (NCC)’s legislative committee that seats for Members of Parliament should be increased from the current 150 to 250 of which 200 must be elected, 40 from interest groups and 10 should be nominated.

Dr. Simutanyi told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, people in rural areas need more representation, adding that they face different problems that would need the attention of their area MPs.

He explained that the role of MPs is to effectively represent the electorates and bring development to their constituencies and consequently develop the whole nation therefore increasing parliamentary seats should only apply to rural areas.

Dr. Simutanyi added that government and other political parties in the country should ensure that their elected law makers deliver to the public by establishing close working relationship with people who voted for them.

He noted that it is for this reason that government during the 2011 general elections should consider reducing the number of urban MPs where as those of rural should be increased.

Dr. Simutanyi, who is also a political analyst, has observed that urban constituencies despite been developed has continued to have a large number of MPs.

He cited Lusaka and Copperbelt as some of the provinces which should have the number of parliamentarians reduced.

He further urged MPs to ensure that during parliamentary debates they concentrate more on issues that affect their constituencies and deliver on the promises they made during campaigns.

ZANIS/MM/AM/ENDS.

And Health Minister, Kapembwa Simbao, has described the condition of Justice Sakala as stable.

Justice Sakala was evacuated to South Africa after a team of medical doctors recommended that his heart problem needed further investigations.

The Chief Justice fell ill last week and was admitted to Lusaka trust hospital.

Meanwhile, Science and Technology Minister, Peter Daka, has been hospitalised at a private Hospital in Lusaka.

Mr. Simbao however declined to state his condition.

[ZNBC]

The Executive Committee of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has resolved that parliament should be mandated to ascertain the health of a sitting President to continue holding office.

The members agreed, that with one third majority, members of parliament should initiate a motion through the speaker to remove the President from office on medical grounds.

Committee members said in Lusaka on Tuesday that within 14 days after the motion has passed through parliament the speaker should request the chief justice to constitute a team of medical experts to examine the health of a President.

The members said within seven days of the appointment of the medical committee the President should appear before the doctors failure to which they would constitute a ground for impeachment.

During the debates commissioner, Daniel Monkombwe, argued that cabinet would not be the best group to determine whether the health of the President should be scrutinized.

He said this is because cabinet members are Presidential appointees who may be victimised in the process.

Commissioners Richard Kapita and Ernest Mwansa fully endorsed the proposal for parliament to initiate the impeachment process on medical grounds.

Reverend David Masupa also supported the proposal citing parliament’s role of offering checks and balances to the executive.

And Committee Chairperson, Michael Mabenga has appointed a sub committee to scrutinize the proposals for parliament to be mandated to initiate inquiries into the President’s health.

[ZNBC]

Government has told the Lusaka City Council to ensure that the new Lusaka City master plan addresses the persistent traffic congestion in the city.

Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani says the city master plan should provide a solution to the traffic congestion in central business district of the city.

Mr. Mangani also challenged the local authority to take into account the expansion of the province to avoid compounding traffic congestion challenge in the city.

He expressed concern at the inertia of the local authority to inspect the construction works taking place along the line of rail in Lusaka which has contributed to the traffic congestion in the city.

Mr. Mangani further pointed out that the construction of sub-standards buildings in the central business district of Lusaka was adding to the untidy look of the city.

He said this today during a stakeholders meeting convened to look at ways of trying to find ways of lessening traffic congestion in the city.

Speaking earlier, Acting Lusaka City Council Director of Planning Joseph Mukupa said the council was taking into account the social and economical dimensions in the new plans for the city.

Mr. Mukupa said these include construction of shopping malls away from the central business of the district in a bid to decongest the city.

He said the council was carrying out feasibility studies aimed at improving the flow of traffic in the city.

Mr. Mukupa disclosed that the council was looking at ways of creating by-passes on Dedan Kimati road, Lumumba –Kalamambo road junction and initiating a road network along the Zesco pylons.

And Commissioner of Lands, Fortune Kachamba, said the commission is considering repossessing unfinished buildings and idle land so that it can be given to serious developers.

ZANIS/JT/AM/ENDS