. Nonde-Simukoko

By FLAVIOR CHISHALA –
THE Patriotic Front (PF) Government has pledged to continue protecting the interests of workers in the country if voted back into office.
Chairperson for Labour Joyce Nonde-Simukoko said her party had done so much in the labour sector and notable among the many achievements was the ban on casualisation and unfair termination of contracts without valid reasons.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko said the Government had brought in safety net for retirees whose retirement age had been revised and could now remain on a salary until their benefits were paid.
“Our desire is to protect the rights of workers because they are drivers of the economy and we are encouraging them to join trade unions,” Ms Nonde said.
She said when she featured on Radio Phoenix’s special programme yesterday that the Government had in the past five years put in place a friendly legal framework which had brought about a decent work agenda.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko, who is a former trade unionist, urged workers in the country to analyse if people vying for political office were labour-friendly.
She said the PF had a 15-point plan for the labour sector which would be implemented once voted back into power.
The strategy included helping interest groups to form cooperatives and ensure an increase in the budget allocation to the agriculture sector in line with the Maputo Declaration.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko said the Government would also help link farmers to export markets for selected agricultural products such as beans, tomatoes and soya beans, among others.
She said the Government would further continue promoting rural industries in line with a popular product in the area.
A bank with relatively low interest rates of the agriculture-related business sectors to fund long and value chain for export would be opened.
Markets and bus station groups would be formalised to support them establish companies and work with local authorities.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko said the Government would strengthen entrepreneurship and business training to include practical training, support mechanization of farming and make agriculture appealing to youths.
“We shall support graduating students so that they can graduate with business plans that can be financed under business plans.
“Government would also start saving and investment programmes in markets, bus stations and other public business arenas to encourage the culture of investment,” she said.
Ms Nonde-Simukoko said the Government would support processing of gem stones to localise employment and encourage export of precious stones.
She said stone-crushing and small mines would also be supported to operate efficiently and use the opened-up roads for businesses to enable local people to make money for themselves.
The Government will embark on registering of all unemployed and people with different skills to help them select sectors which will suit their skills.