Government has intervened in the case of over 100 dismissed Zambian breweries casual workers who are demanding their benefits from the firm.

The one hundred and Seven casual workers were dismissed in 2007 without benefits after working for the company for many years ranging between 3 to 12 years.

According to a letter from the Ministry of Labour principal labour officer, Chikula Chinyanta dated 22nd December, 2011 to Zambian Breweries Managing Director, notes a series of meetings that have been held over the casualisation, non payment of wages and severance benefits to the workers.

Mr. Chinyanta explained that since the casual workers worked for more than the required six months, Zambian breweries should therefore pay put all legal dues including salaries, bonuses and drinkages that were due to the general workers working under permanent and pensionable terms.

And the dismissed casual workers leader, Gilbert Liswaniso has commended the Ministry of labour for intervening in the case.

He says Zambian workers have for a long time suffered under casualisation conditions even when after working beyond the six months period for a casual.

However, Zambian breweries say the company does not owe the casual workers any benefits.

Zambian Breweries Corporate Affairs Director, Chibamba Kanyama explains that the casual workers were engaged by a labour broker called Beatmas consultant.

He says it is therefore the labour broker who owes the casual workers benefits. Mr. Kanyama says there is no basis for Zambian breweries to pay the casual workers.

Efforts to get a comment from Beatmas consultant Director, Masautso Nyathando failed as he is reported to be out of the country.

But New Minister of labour, Chishimba Kambwili says he will give a position on the matter this week on Tuesday after getting a briefing from officials at the Ministry.

Mr. Kambwili was on Friday last week moved to the Ministry of Labour from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

MUVITV

9 COMMENTS

NACHULA January 15, 2012 At 10:14 pm

PF IS THE SALVATION WE LONG AWAITED FOR.
chichi January 15, 2012 At 10:34 pm

This is kambwili, not the old man who was just languishing there, waiting instructions from the president. And the response from Chibamb kanyamba explains y these guys thinks of their pockets than the majority suffering workers.
joe hunter January 15, 2012 At 11:21 pm

just wait for kambwili to unleash his stunts,this is going to be an interesting showdown.keep us posted
friend January 16, 2012 At 12:06 am

kambwili will soon act on this! mwapya mbwili yaisa
Tiza January 16, 2012 At 12:49 am

come on Kambwiliiiiiiiiiiiiiii
JUA JUA January 16, 2012 At 1:56 am

These guys were casuals and will not be paid anything apart from what they got at the time. This case is the same as that of those former Iraq workers. Maybe Kambwili should deal with Nyantando, whom I know as a crook, from the time he was my boss at Zanaco.
And by the way, Zambian workers like to get free money. They should learn to work for it. If you sign up as a casual worker, then you accept the terms that come with it.
Mwanawakwitu January 16, 2012 At 6:22 am

Kambwili this impressive. Now this makes me put Kambwili on a cabinet level. My results of my studies on GBM are still pending lol.
KK January 16, 2012 At 8:07 am

This case was dismissed by the court. The Ministry of labour has intervened. If Kambwili directs Zambian Breweries to pay,and the company refuses, what happens next? Let them follow Nyanthando who employed them. This unfortunate behavior of claiming what you do not deserve is making companies think twice about casual workers. Even the little people used to earn will no longer be available…no more money in people’s pockets
Kwekwe January 16, 2012 At 10:22 am

@6, Jua Jua and 8 KK, It is time employers leant to respect our labour laws. You cant have a counrty where everyone is free to do anything and esp disrigarding laws of the Land.The law says a casula worker is supposed to work for a maximum 6 months then be considered for permanent work. But most employers ignore this law and continue abusing the poor workers for as much as 12 yeras as is the case here. I Doubt the response from Chibamba becuase I once worked for the company in Ndola, we didnt have such a company there. May be in lusaka. This problem started in 2000, this company Chibamba is talking about was not there. it coud have been contracted years later. they are just using it as a scapegot