By DELPHINE ZULU –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska and other relevant Government officials to immediately open salary negotiations with Public Service unions.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has urged the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to hasten the process of reviewing labour laws so that workers are protected in their jobs.

•PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu (right) presents the Presidential award for bravery to Lusaka City Council fire fighter Samuel Jere during Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA

Mr Lungu said the directive to commence negotiations should effectively lead to the end of the Public Service wage freeze.
He expected all stakeholders to participate fully and ensure that the negotiations for new conditions of service are concluded by December this year.
The President was speaking yesterday when he joined workers to commemorate this year’s International Labour Day under the theme, ‘Promoting National Economic Growth Through Job Creation, Free Collective Bargaining and Respect of workers’ Rights,’ at Freedom Statue.
“I would like our esteemed workers to know that I am a listening President, I have heard your appeal on the wage freeze and I am proud to announce here that I have directed the Secretary to Cabinet and others to open negotiations, this effectively leads to the end of the wage freeze,” he said.
The President said his Government is committed to uplifting the plight of all Zambian workers and decided to end the wage freeze following appeals and after analysing the situation.
Mr Lungu said Government will not allow workers to be exploited because they are the engine and pillar of the economy.
He expressed gratitude to the labour unions and their members for the peaceful industrial climate in the nation.
The enactment of a Law to curb casualisation, unfair termination of employment and labour brokering with a view to promote permanent employment, has been given priority.
Although Government has done well in other labour matters, some workers getting below stipulated minimum wages, was still a challenge.
Mr Lungu said he was delighted to be part of what he called ‘ The Jubilee Labour Day Celebrations’ and described it as a significant one as it is in conformity with the ruling party’s mandate.
“I wish to state that job creation has remained a core priority for the Patriotic Front (PF) administration, a total of 483, 688 jobs have been created as at January 2015, with the majority being in tourism, agriculture, construction and service sectors.
“We will implement the Industralisation Policy and job creation strategy to have more jobs,” Mr Lungu said.
He said Government would continue creating an enabling environment for citizens to exercise their rights such as freedom of speech, association, and collective bargaining, but warned that people should not abuse these rights to injure other people because they have the right to sue.
“Government recognises the need for an appropriate legal framework to facilitate effective regulation of employment in the country and embark on developing sector based minimum wages that will meet the needs of specific sectors to ensure economically acceptable wages and conditions of service are put in place,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu said his Government had taken serious measures to domesticate the provisions of the recently ratified International Labour Organisation conventions on safety and health, which will give workers the right to demand for safe working environments.

He urged workers to apply themselves effectively to increase levels of productivity and ensure that joint commitment is maintained as this is the only way to take the nation to greater heights and achieve economic independence.
“As we strive for good conditions of service for our workers, let us bear in mind that efficiency and productivity are vital for economic growth and creation of decent jobs,” he said.
The President took time to present gifts to various employees who were awarded and urged the trade unions and employers to engage in mutual negotiations and strive for a win-win situation.
ZCTU President Nkole Chishimba demanded that the reviewing of the labour laws be concluded before the next elections because it had taken four years since the process was introduced.
Mr Chishimba said most workers had suffered at the hands of employers due to some bad conditions contained in the current labour laws and that the delay in revising the law is an injustice on the workers.
“We are calling on the Ministry of Labour to hasten the process of reviewing labour laws, this is an assurance to workers’ protection in their jobs, we demand that this be done before the expiry of this term of office,” Mr Chishimba said.
Mr Chishimba said Government should compel all employers to allow workers to join unions of their choice especially in the hospitality industry.
He asked Government to come up with a more robust youth-focused skills and employment creation national programme as a deliberate policy to address issues of high unemployment which is impacting negatively on the majority of the youths.
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda paid tribute to the labour movement for the mature manner in which they have collaborated with the Government and for selecting an all-embracing theme.
International Labour Organisation (ILO) country director, Martin Clemensson said there is need to be more proactive and find concrete strategies of creating and maintaining jobs that can sustain people above the minimum wage.
He said decent work can be achieved if there is transparent and genuine dialogue between the Government, workers and the employers’ organisation.
“Decent work is an essential means to achieving fair, inclusive and sustainable development. Work is the only way to overcome poverty in the long run,” he said.
Mr Clemmensson said the labour movement needs to stand united, speak with one voice while employers’ organisation should be representatives of the private sector.
The department of labour must have adequate resources to be able to do its job because unresolved labour disputes affect productivity and the country’s economic performance.
Federation of Free Trade Union of Zambia (FFTUZ) president Chingati Msiska urged Government to ensure that measures are taken against those employers found flouting labour laws and exploiting workers.