By NCHIMUNYA MIYOBA
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions says the union is concerned with the silence by government over the job losses in the mining sector.
Speaking during the commemoration of Labour Day that was held under the theme ‘Enhancing Productivity and Alleviating Poverty through decent work’ in Kitwe today, ZCTU representative Adon Sakala said government has failed to sustain jobs that have been created as seen by what has transpired in the mining sector where over 4000 workers has lost their jobs at the same time.
Mr Sakala said government has not said much on the issue of job cuts in the mining sector where most families have been affected.
He charged that the labour movement demands action on the implementation of radical economic transformation as this will help the country address high unemployment levels.
Mr Sakala said there is need for fiscal discipline and transparency to curtail mismanagement of national resources as workers are forced to put up with the burden of high taxes against low wages.
He stressed that the benefit of economic growth needs to be shared uniformly as workers play a role in creating wealth for the country hence the need to benefit from the wealth.
He said this year’s commemorations have come at a difficult time when workers in the country are facing serious economic challenges such as not knowing when salaries will be paid.
He added that luck of salaries has become stressful for workers as the problem keeps on worsening every month adding that workers in the public service are getting demotivated hence affecting productivity.
And Zambia Federation of Employers Executive Director Harrington Chibanda said government has not done enough to take the country to the point of realizing the set objectives of the 7th National development plan such as reduction of poverty, creation of employment and the enhancement of human development among others.
Mr Chibanda said the labour movement has not seen any deliberate efforts from government to increase resource allocation in the annual budgets that can spur growth hence creating decent jobs for the Zambian people.
He said annual budgets are not in favor of employment creation but merely make pronouncements that affect the cost of doing business in the country.
He added that the agriculture sector has not seen meaningful measure been put in place that is aimed at protecting the local agro products adding that government should introduce measures against unfair competition from foreign products that have flooded the Zambian market as away to protect local industries thereby creating employment for the local people.
“In October Last year the country experienced the closure of Zamanita which was one of the few companies processing oil from the local soya beans. Employees lost their jobs and also Zambian farmers that used to supply the bean to the company lost market,” he said.
Meanwhile speaking when he officiated as guest speaker at the same event, Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu lashed out on government heads of department for failing to persuade their subordinates to attend the Labour Day celebrations as the participation of workers in this year’s celebration has gone down.
Mr Mpundu said his office soon write to all heads of department requesting them to indicate if the want to attend celebrations next year or report for work on labour day.
395 employees have been awarded this year during the labour celebrations compared to 386 that were awarded last year.
