Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) – President Michael Sata used the occasion of Labour Day, being commemorated under the theme “Zambia at 50; Creating Decent Work and Promotion Socio-Economic Justice for National Development”, to direct Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda to look into the issue of poor salaries for civil servants so that they are paid well.
Departing from the usual programme were various employers and unions deliver speeches, Sata, who attended the Labour Day celebrations in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, also directed that no speeches be read out at this year’s commemorations to enable employers to go back and reflect on the welfare of their workers.
The head of state said employers should not wait for their workers to go on strike for them to improve their conditions of service.
Sata’s government was widely criticised for firing nurses last year who took part in a strike to demand for better conditions of services.
Critics said the decision by government to fire the nurses has the potential to cause a huge industrial crisis in the country, especially as Zambia has a shortage of health workers in excess of 25,000.
However, vice-president Guy Scott, defending government’s position to fire the nurses, said “we have adequate nurses and health workers, 800 graduate nurses will be taken on to replace them.”
Recently, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde, announced that so far about 92 nurses who were fired last year for staging a strike have been reinstated.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president, Leonard Hikaumba, on Monday said there is need to have decent jobs as Zambia turns 50 years this year.
He also stressed that there is need to introduce laws that will provide for punitive measures against erring companies.
Photo: ZNBC
