Government has banned Casualization of labour and unjustified termination of contracts of employment by employers following the amendment of the employment Act.
Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has told a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that President Edgar Lungu on 26th November, 2015 signed into law the amendments to the employment Act cap 268 of the laws of Zambia and published on 3rd December, 2015.
Mr. Shamenda says the enactment of the amended employment Act number. 15 of 2015 into law means that it is illegal for any employer to engage an employee on casual basis for any job that is of a permanent nature.
He states that the signing of the bill into law is a new year present to Zambian workers the majority of whom have for a long time suffered exploitation and abuse of their rights through Casualization.
Mr. Shamenda says given the rampant violations and exploitation of workers’ rights in the country, government was prompted to fast track amendments to the employment Act cap 268 to arrest the scourge of Casualization.
He adds that the new law will also regulate fixed term contracts of employment where employees will not be perpetually kept on fixed term contracts renewed at various intervals.
The Labour Minister further states that the relief that the amendment Act brings is the protection of jobs for the workers.
Mr. Shamenda points out that an employer will not be allowed to terminate employment of a worker without a valid reason, but that this does not protect non performing and indiscipline employees from being punished or dismissed.
He has since urged workers to ensure that their productivity and discipline levels remain high.
atase,bafikala mukamba chabe.kulibe navamene michita elo iwe chiwhite hair.umakusila chabe no vote,for you.
And how do you intend tp sort out this issue in Zesco a parastatal company that has exploited workers for so long.
And how do you intend to sort out this issue in Zesco a parastatal company that has exploited workers for so long.
What about a law to ban expatriates who are employed in positions that Zambians are capable of holding.
Introducing such a law at this time when the economy is stressed is not the wisest thing to do. Are you saying we should fire maids, farm workers too
…when people talk of inconsistence…this is what they refer to….remember MoF coming up with SIs which within weeks are reversed….did Shamenda and team engage other stake holders before coming up with such a law..??…who would fire anybody without a valid reason..??..it only happens in political circles …on a general reason of…’in the national interest..’
….casualization shall always be there because the nature of casual employment is subjective….unless the govt comes up with distinctive definition of casualization….the Shamendas have their eyes focussed only on few institutions like the GAME, Shoprite such lot…but the law shall also encompass construction industries, manufacturing industries like Sugar company…Larfarge cement…the mines where casualization is…
Surely looking at the man in that photo what can he contribute that is new to that day or later on consult or research what other nations are handling this issue.
How do you just ban without thinking things through….everything is about silly directives…you have to have a carrot and stick approach to these issues; reward firms that employ full-time via tax incentives and not so with companies that have more casual workers; casual workers are even there in developed nations working on Zero-hours contracts, or casual contracts, that allow employers to hire staff with no guarantee of work.
Please lets retire Fackson “Pappa Smurf” Shamenda…these are old trade unionists from yesterday there is nothing he would know about today’s global village and balancing the interests of business, workers and the economy.
I cannot agree more than what scrutinizerer has said. I therefore adopt your sentiments without alterations as mine. The law will author more problems than it will solve for real. I will test the law by applying as a ‘ducker boy ‘ at construction site and claim to be on permanent and pensionable basis! No thinking at all! Maids etc will lose jobs, what a strategy by using a wrong formula. Pf,whoops always on trial and error method.
True…busy strategising without thinking…let’s see if this directive will solve anything. I wonder who these people seat with and consult for advice…they are doing things haphazardly…
Jobs are driven by the amount of work available – either long term or short term or causal work or a piece of work which is better than nothing. The above implication means that causal workers will have no income because their work will be given to regular employees as over time. This minister should appreciate those companies which employ both regular and cause. Mr. Shamenda should be the biggest hypocrite because at his farms he employs piece workers, not even casuals. The government cannot even afford to employ causals. In PF we have some bull dogs good at barking, but no power to take action.
The challenge is not ony in formulating good laws, but in enforcing or implementing them. The goings-on in most industries emphasize that most govt. technocrats are compromised. Guess some are already working out how to assist employers to legally evade the new regulations!
it is illegal for any employer to engage an employee on casual basis for any job that is of a permanent nature.
Employers can easily escape this. It is not defined in law what job is of a permanent nature
Comment: focus on employment creation and policies that will strengthen the economy which will safeguard employees as investors will not have much to complain about. This policy will see more losing employment, and in whose interest?