President Edgar Lungu has directed the Ministry Of Labour and Social Security to extend sector-based minimum wages to other sectors in the country in order to protect the rights of vulnerable categories of employees.
President Lungu told Minister of Labour Joyce Nonde-Simukoko to further expedite the process of coming up with the sector minimum wages.
ZANIS reports that the Head of State gave the directive during the commemoration of the 2021 International Labour Day in Lusaka held at Mulungushi International Conference Center under the theme “Promoting Industrialisation through Productivity, Decent Work and Sustainable Economic Growth amidst Covid 19” is expedited.
President Lungu said his government has continued putting in place sector based minimum wages to protect the rights of vulnerable categories of employees, as demonstrated on 18th December, 2020, when government issued the minimum wages and conditions of employment for truck and bus drivers to regulate the terms and conditions of service for them.
“There are still other sectors that need to be considered. I, therefore, wish to direct the minister of labour and social security to ensure that the process of coming up with the sector minimum wages is expedited,” said President Lungu.
President Lungu, who led the Labour Day celebrants in observing a minute of silence for workers that had died due to Covid 19, said government has prioritised interventions aimed at supporting enterprises, safeguarding jobs and creating creation.
He said his administration has developed covid-19 workplace safety and health guidelines to reduce workers’ risk of exposure to covid-19 at the workplace.
President Lungu said government has devised social protection interventions with support from the cooperating partners, such as the Covid-19 emergency cash transfer programme targeting 38,000 households in 20 districts.
He disclosed that the National Pension Scheme Authority has registered 37,142 informal sector employees following the issuance of statutory instrument no. 72 of 2019, aimed at extending social protection to the informal sector.
President Lungu said the 2021 Labour Day theme emphasizes the need for the country to remain resilient to the shocks arising from the covid-19 pandemic and embark on economic recovery through industrialisation and productivity.
He said in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, embarking on massive infrastructure development is one way of creating jobs for Zambians.
The Head of State said since 2020, a total of six industrial yards have been completed in Chipata, Kasama, Solwezi, Ndola, Mongu and Kitwe out of the 8 yards earmarked for construction.
The President pointed out that the Lusaka traffic decongestion project has created over 1,000 jobs and that more jobs have been created for Zambians construction of roads, bridges, schools, universities, hospitals and other infrastructure.
He pointed out that Zambia can never develop without a productive human resource as it is the country’s greatest asset.
President Lungu called on Zambians to work hard and help develop the country, stating that the national productivity policy launched in March, 2021 will help the country achieve economic prosperity and improve the standard of living.
The President noted that investments for enterprises in the multi-facility economic zones (mfez) and industrial parks increased from US$ 2.3 billion in 2019 to US$ 2.9 billion in 2020 with participating numbers of enterprises rose from 123 in 2019 to 128 in 2020, creating an estimated 14,775 jobs in 2019 to 16,676 in 2020.
President Lungu also disclosed that government has created 5,237 jobs under the Lake Tanganyika project through a covid-19 relief package of US$ 200,000 and further provided employment opportunities to 93,44 out of the targeted 150,000 of which 49 per cent are females.
He said 37,500 vulnerable women have income at household through the empowerment of over 2,500 women cooperatives countrywide with various agricultural and value addition equipment.
President Lungu urged the labour movement and employers to work together to improve the welfare of workers in the country by ensuring that deserving workers are rewarded.
The Head of State presented awards to Amadeus Mukobe for being the most hardworking civil servant with 33 years of service, while Zambia Revenue Authority’s Marko Sikalumbi and Professor Yakub Mulla were also awarded from quasi government and the private sector.
Great to see President RB Banda.
This is timely and needed. I thank you my president for having such a big heart for the zambian people. You think of others before yourself. I look upto you just like many zambian apart from the tribal upnd thugs
Lungu Times ,
Why are you not showing any news of PF police surrounding UPND youth secretariat ?
This election year is bringing promises that cannot be honoured by this failed PF project. The quicker these guys are kicked out office the better for the country.
He has been in power 7 years today 2021 he is issuing his silly directives when Parliament will be closing this month …what a lazy visionless donkey
Akaps no one has time to report about useless upnd thugs. By reporting about them , the media will be giving coverage to violence and tribal thugs, which is against zicta rules. Wembuuuwa weh
MORE UNEMPLOYMENT BOO HOO
Worst minister of labour
ECL,RB,D Mwila etc at the Labour Day Celebrations but not observing masking and no social distancing. It looks like these guys are not aware of how Covid-19 is killing People in India. With the Zambian Economy collapsing Sector Minimum wages will cause massive retrenchments across all sectors. ECL is desperate to get votes for August 12. Ufortunatelt people have already made up their minds so it’s too late. ECL and PF will be send “ku wire” on August 12,2021.
Tic toc —-90 days left oh !
Security Guards and hospitality industry workers are the most discriminated in terms of wages in this country. It is time attention was paid to them.
If Ministers and president got salary increment then all round workers should also
Get same percentage increment and not
Minimum wage.
Give miners a $500 minimum wage imwe.
Our money ends in expert rates who carries a 20 kg bags of money while us the owners of these natural resources are getting a $150-200
Pictures at the May Labour Day show that ECL,RB,Joyce Simukoko,Davies Mwila etc were not wearing Masks and Social Distancing. Is Covid-19 over? Can’t these Leaders see many People dying in India from this deadly disease? This is a very bad example to the Nation. Covid-19 is still with us and such Celebrations are Covid-19 Super Spreaders. The late John Magufuli ignored this disease in Tanzania and now it’s causing havoc. Does ECL want to witness this havoc in Zambia? The writing is on the wall.
PF TIME OUT
@Grundixy why is RB referred to as a Former President when he held Office for 34 Months only instead of a Minimum of 36 months? The 2016 Amended Constitution says a Term of Office shouldn’t be less than 36Months. ECL held Office for only 18 months which is less than 36Months and not considered a Term of Office. On this basis RB is not a Former President becoz he didn’t hold Office for a Minimum of 3 years.Since RB didn’t hold Office for 3 years his Pension Benefits must be withdrawn and he must re-pay all Payments made towards his Pension Benefits. What is Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander. Concourt should interpret,obey,defend and enforce the Republican Constitution without fear or favour.
EVERYONE AGREES THAT WAGES ARE LOW AND NEED TO BE INCREASED BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME WITH THE ECONOMY ON ITS KNEES
AND ALL LEGAL TAX PAYING BUSINISSES STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE
SO THE PRESIDENT IS WAY OUT OF LINE AND ONLY SAYING THIS AS AN ELECTION STRATERGY TO GAIN VOTES
WHAT IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 80% ??????????
PF TIME OUT
LT SELECTIVE
With unemployment at around 90% compulsory Minimum wage increases with Businesses struggling will lead to massive retrenchments. ECL is trying to buy votes thru unrealistic wage increases but this will be disastrous on the Zambian Economy. Besides such Minimum wage increases will soon be eroded by inflation. They have been printing money and dishing it out like confetti. This is fueling inflation and by August 12 inflation will have soared to 25% p.a from the Current 22.8 % p.a. Current fiscal and monetary policies will destabilise the macroeconomic environment. The writing is on the wall.
If i may ask on behalf of all zambian truck drivers,when did we start crying to you over our poor working conditions and salaries? you think we are kids who you can cheat at anytime ? just keep your promise.we already lost interest in you father.we knew that you can only answer when election time is near.come august,all trucjkers and families are not voting for PF,we need someone who can listen to our cry as zambians.i cant say much.thankyou