Government says it remains committed to the creation of jobs and a conducive labour environment that ensures social protection for all workers.
Speaking when he delivered his speech at the commemoration of labour day celebration held under the theme “enhancing productivity and alleviating poverty through the decent work agenda,” President Edgar Lungu said this year’s theme demands for all workers to effectively contribute to the growth of production in any organisation.
“This theme resonates well with our national development agenda of accelerating our efforts towards vision 2030 without leaving anyone behind. In this regard productivity is an indispensable ingredient; it entails optimum utilization of human and our resources for improved outcomes,’’ President Lungu said.
President Lungu said that productivity demands for continuous improvement in work processes for assured quality of products and services.
The President added that government is aware of the many challenges that are in the labour market especially the mining sector.
“Government is fully aware of job insecurities especially in the mining sector. A lot of challenges include low wages, poor adherence to safety and health standards as well as low social security coverage among the informal economic workers.
“In order to respond to these challenges, government together with our social partners has been implementing an ambitious programme to reform the employment and labor sector,’’ President Lungu said.
Mr Lungu added that government had enacted the Employment Code to strengthen the labor market.
He urged all employers to adhere to the provisions of the law and create decent jobs for workers who are contributing to the improvement and growth of companies.
Meanwhile, Labour Commissioner Kazier Chanda has reviewed that the new employment act has been structured in a way that will help sanction administrative penalties regarding employment breach regardless of magnitude.
Mr Chanda said employees should know their rights and report cases of abuse to the labor office in order to promote decent work and equity at work places.
He reviewed that a number of developments were noted in the labor sector last year which included addressing issues of minimum wage, looking at the new Employment Act, interactions with the International labor organisation and attending conferences where issues of child labor were discussed.
The Labour Commissioner also disclosed that 10,500 labour-related complaints were received in 2018, out of which 8, 500 cases were resolved.