The Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Eastern Province has lifted the suspension of operation at referendum Good Nature Agro Shelling Centre in Chipata District.
Lifting the suspension of the company, the Eastern Provincial Labour Officer, Francis Shabani noted that it is impressing to see the company has corrected the measures of child labour given the guidelines provided for in the laws of Zambia.
This is happened during a media brief that was held at Eastern Procince Labour Office.
Mr Shabani has since strongly warned employers practicing Child Labour contrary to section 16 of the Employment Code Act No.3 of 2019 of the laws of Zambia and the provision of the Employment of Young persons and Children’s Act Cap 247 that the labour office will move in swiftly and impose sanctions on such a company.
He explained that the Good Nature Agro shelling Centre has fully complied with the labour laws having been given a week in which to correct the situation at the site where children were engaged in child labour.
Mr Shabani noted that this was in view of the fact that his office received a report from the nearby School authorities that the children were not reporting to School instead were helping thier parents in shelling groundnut at the mentioned company prompting the Labour officer to suspend operations.
He said despite this development, Good Nature Agro Company is one of the companies in Eastern Province that has employed many employees in agri-business providing good conditions of service on attested contracts of employment.
The Provincial Labour Officer noted that from the records, the company has huge investments and such, it gives an indication of many employees being supported to earn an income and reduce the impact of poverty in thier lives.
Speaking at the same event, Co-Founder and Director of Marketing and Communications, Sunday Silungwe pledged to continue working within the provisions of the laws of Zambia owing to the commitment it has to looking into the welfare of small scale farmers in Eastern Province.
Mr.Silungwe noted that it is unfortunate that its company was found wanting due to circumstances beyond thier control as it is zero tolerance on engaging children.
He explained that the site in question has no boundaries hence had no idea of the parents engaging children in the shelling of groundnuts resulting in them being deprived of their rights to education.
Mr.Silungwe added that his company cannot allow children because when employing, an identity card is present for easier tracing and payments using electronic means.
He disclosed that the company at referendum Good Nature Agro Shelling Centre has been working with farmers investing about 1.2 million with more than 400 employees on contract.
The Director has since pledged to continue adhering to labour laws and continue hard in ensuring that the growth of the company makes impactful livehood for small scale farmers in Eastern Procince and the nation at large.
