SHAMENDA

By DELPHINE ZULU-
GOVERNMENT is still open to negotiations on the wage freeze which has been imposed on the civil service.
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda said the labour movement should have re-engaged the Government if they were not impressed with the outcome of the negotiations instead of rushing to the media.
The minister said his office had noted with concern that the labour movement in particular the Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) had a tendency of rushing to the media to denounce Government’s position even before the matter was concluded.
“Currently ZCTU is accusing Government of not wanting to lift the wage freeze, but honestly speaking, the labour movement has not exhausted all the channels. Sharpen your negotiating skills and convince Government. Doors are still open even now come and re-start, rushing to the media won’t help,” Mr Shamenda said.
The minister was speaking yesterday at Lusaka’s Cosmic Lodge at the ZCTU 2015 Pre-Budget national workshop.
Mr Shamenda advised the labour movement to make budget proposals that reflect economic realities due to budgetary constraints and the need to grow the economy.
He said his ministry would in future consider establishing a productivity centre where the ministry of labour would, among other things, measure its productivity levels in the country in order to improve productivity.
“ In this regard, you as labour leaders will need to make proposals that reflect economic realities taking into account the budgetary constraints and the need to grow the economy, for this reason, we need commitment from the workers in order to improve productivity levels,” he said.
He said Government had made tremendous efforts to balance growth with economic transformation and the need for ensuring that the growth was translated into tangible benefits for all Zambians.
Mr Shamenda said while Government had competing needs, the priority should be to diversify the economy, expand infrastructure, enhance private sector investment and generally stimulate sustainable economic growth.
ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba said Government should re-open negotiations on the wage freeze because it would not only have the effect of reducing the real incomes for workers but also undermine the attainment of Millennium Development Goals.
“We know that attainment of the decent work agenda requires effective monitoring of trends on the labour market to ensure that employees comply with laid down regulations, therefore, we will propose
increased funding to the ministry of Labour to ensure there are adequate resources and staffing for effective implementation of programmes,” Mr Hikaumba said.