.Shamenda

By JAMES KUNDA –

THE Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has backed President Edgar Lungu on his decision to realign the retirement age in three categories.
Meanwhile, ZCTU has projected a further improvement in industrial practices following the Government’s assurance that the revision of labour laws will be concluded by June this year.
ZCTU president Nkole Chishimba said in an interview yesterday that his union was pleased with President Lungu’s directive that the retirement age should be realigned to give the employee three options of retiring.
President Lungu said the changes to the retirement age should be effected through an amendment to Statutory Instrument (SI) number 63 of 2014, to provide employees with the option of going on early retirement at the age of 55, normal retirement at the age of 60 years and late retirement at 65 years.
“The President’s directive makes us happy and renews hope of consensus regarding the retirement age.
“What we expect is that the union’s proposal will be considered as the SI is effected into law,” he said.
Mr Chishimba said the union was also happy with Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda’s announcement on the revised labour law reforms coming into effect in June.
The revised labour law reforms will bring an end casualisation and other labour related matters that make the working environment for Zambians unfavourable.
“We are happy that the labour laws are being reformed and our hope is that the June deadline is realised,” he said.