.Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda
By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
GOVERNMENT is expected to establish a productivity centre at the end of the year to boost job creation.
Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda said in an interview that Government was in the process of establishing a productivity centre at the end of 2014.
The centre would monitor the levels of productivity for both the public and private sector.
He said currently, the productivity levels of Zambian institutions were low and consequently that did not create an environment of more job opportunities.
“If the output of companies is low, opportunities for new jobs will also be low which is affecting us as a country,” Mr Shamenda said.
He said compared to the region and globally, Zambia’s productivity was one fifth of what it is supposed to be.
Mr Shamenda said that percentage was low and rendered the country unproductive.
There was need therefore, he said, to find ways to improve output so that more jobs were created.
The centre would be an establishment that would monitor productivity levels of various companies and give recommendations on how to improve output.
This would improve the country’s economy and create employment opportunities.
Mr Shamenda said to create employment, those already in employment, should be very productive and the productivity centre would ensure that employees were productive.
