By CHUSA SICHONE –
LABOUR and Social Security Minister Joyce Nonde-Simukoko has appealed to the public to report inspectors they see using Government vehicles for personal errands.
The minister has also appealed to female workers with mood swings to utilise the Mother’s Day for them to calm down.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko said during the Patriotic Front Interactive Forum in Lusaka on Sunday that President Edgar Lungu facilitated for the procurement of vehicles for labour inspectors to ease their movements and it was expected that they use them accordingly.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko observed that a number of Government vehicles broke down every year because some its workers were using them for their personal gain hence her appeal to the public to be vigilant and report such officers.
“I have told the labour inspectors to use those vehicles for the intended purpose. When you see the labour officer in our car carrying charcoal, let me know or selling whatever, let us know, because you are all supposed to be watchdogs,” she said.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko said the public should equally report labour officers who would be spotted parking a Government vehicle at a bar.
She said the Government bought the vehicles using taxpayers’ money at a huge cost and therefore taxpayers should take keen interest in ensuring that State assets were properly managed.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko said also that labour inspectors should not give excuses for not reaching certain areas for inspections because the Government bought vehicles to cater for all the districts in Zambia.
Meanwhile, Ms Nonde-Simukoko noted that women had a negative attitude towards work as compared to their male folks, citing front desk officers, in banks and hospitals, among other areas, who were usually sulky on the job.
She said there was need for people to be proud of what they were doing and to do it well to show their relevance and that if women felt that they were moody on a particular day, they should take a Mother’s Day off.
“Let’s change our attitudes, people want us to service them, let’s service them. If you are not feeling well, go home, find time to go home, that’s why we have given the women one day off, so if you feel that today you are in a very bad mood, stay at home. In a month, we expect you to be very upset once,” she said.