Mr. Kachimba says government will not allow foreign investors to continue abrogating and taking the Zambian labour laws for granted.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that foreign investors should desist from using the global economic recession as reason for failing to award decent conditions of service to the workers.
He says Zambian workers abroad fully respect the laws of other countries and that both Investors and workers should do the same.
He said it was important for foreign companies to realize that profit is earned from the input of the Zambian workers whom they ‘ill treat’.
“It is high time our foreign bosses gave a higher pay to our workers. As government we shall not accept the global recession as a reason why our workers should not be properly remunerated because their profits were made with the input of the Zambian workers,” he stressed.
Mr. Kachimba was commenting on the alleged current standoff between the Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) and the workers.
ZANIS
Lead by example not ifya ku ponta ponta fye apa ala. RB is globe trotting intead of attending to national issues, do you expect investors to respect us
Well you need the money so stop politicking.
Acta non verba minster! This is just a way of being an empty tin that seeks approval for his words without any actions. This has become an artform especially with the Zambian government were you release press statements of what action you will do and yet never get to it. Chinaman isn’t waiting for threats he is waiting for action, he is probably tucking into some chicken chow mein and lauging at your threat
It amazes me to see how these folks like the press. They are pretty quick to talk to the so called “ZANIS” just to let us know that they exist than actually showing us what they have archieved so far.
Well spoken Minister, how about general workers brought in with full knowledge of your ministry and that of home affairs ( immigration) by some big companies depriving locals jobs
Yes the minister has warned.Now the question is:HAS HE WRITTEN TO THEM OR IS HE JUST TRYING TO APPEAR ON THE PAPER TO SHOW US THAT HE IS WORKING?
# 3 couldn’t agree any more with you. He should start by amending the minimum wage act. We shall see from there how much he wants people to be paid. His collegue Maxwell Mwale was even complaining that Albidon’s salries were too high saying why should a Zambian have his salary pegged in $US yet all Albidon did was pay the Zambian at a uniform salary scale as they pay they would pay in Australia for the same job description.
Gee give the deputy minister a break! He is recently appointed and is telling you what he plans to do.why attack him for saying something sensible.I think bloggers just like attacking anyone in govt even when its something positive.There have been stories of Chinese mistreating Zambians now this new minister is saying he won’t tolerate that.I don’t see what he has done wrong.
Kachimba, you are even saying foreign bosses! what a shame, business partners, major shareholders are not supposed to be called bosses, they are running business on our behalf, but since you guys have decided to allow them take all the profits, that’s why you think so low and refer to them as bosses! Get the ****ing mineral royalties back to 3%, Company withholding tax 30%, valued added tax (minerals), proper renmuneration for workers, then build Zambia you foools, when shall you ever listen?
Kachimba, you are even saying foreign bosses! what a shame, business partners, major shareholders are not supposed to be called bosses, they are running business on our behalf, but since you guys have decided to allow them take all the profits, that’s why you think so low and refer to them as bosses! Get the ******ing mineral royalties back to 3%, Company withholding tax 30%, valued added tax (minerals), proper renmuneration for workers, then build Zambia you foools, when shall you ever listen?
This is what I fail to understand from most of your arm-chair critics. What’s wrong with the labour ministers sentiments? To me it shows political will to improve the conditions of service of Zambians.
I keep telling you this, being in the opposition does not mean opposing everything the government does or says just because you’re in the opposition. Let’s learn to be much more objective and rather hold the minister accountable to his word.
YES TELL THEM. THESE INFESTORS MUST RESPECT ZAMBIANS.
#11 of all the comments posted on this subject nobody is criticising the minister for his statement, they are urging him to back his words with action.Personally i don’t see anything wrong with that ,because we have heard this government rhetoric of threatening investors in the media before, but no groung work is done to implement those threats.The job of ministry of labour is not to issue press statements it is to do the actual work and let ministry of information do the propanganda.
@3 Bwezani. I dont know where you are right now. Here in Zambia nobody will believe the minister because right now nearly 50 Zambians have been fired at KCM for strike action demanding better pay. The protests that ensued were as result refusing to pay Zambians a wage increase while paying 500 Indian Artisans around $5000 each per month. The minister is very much aware of this but has kept quiet. The best GRZ has done is to accuse the oppostion for the action by the miners. In Luanshya where Kachimba is MP the Chinese are keeping 60 Zambian employees in a 3 bed roomed house and again Kachimba has kept quiet. His words are ok but is he going to act?
Why don’t government put its money where its mouth is? Simple. Just enact legislation against discrimination at work. Equal pay, for equal work. Work permits to foreigners should only be given if the job has been advertised in Zambia for at least 6 months and no Zambian with suitable qualifications has applied for it. For senior staff positions, a shortlisting and interviewing panel should include an official from the Ministry of Labour and another from a Ministry concerned with that aspect of business, including a University representative to check academic credentials. In that way, we will not have artisans with City and Guilds certificates from overseas being appointed managers over UNZA graduates.
Kachimba, one of the deputy ministers with a voice….
#14, Indian artisans getting $5000 each per month?.. that sucks!!!!!!
@#13 & #14. I hear you. Moreover the biggest problem we have in Zambia is that we have a very weak and toothless mine worker’s union that fails to adequately lobby the mines for better conditions, and fails to engage the State to enact fairer legislation regarding workers rights! The revelation by #14 at KCM is not acceptable!
Mr.Minister kindly stop threatening investors the President has traveled and worked very hard to attract these investors to Zambia, Investors are paying workers K300,0000 – K500,000 per month because you and some of your relatives are paying your house servants K150,000 – K250,000 per month, The problem is with you and your ministry and a Parliament which has failed the Zambian people in regards to a fair wage and conditions at work.