The government has expressed concern with the low levels of labour productivity growth in the country.
Ministry of Labour and Social Security Acting Permanent Secretary, Zechariah Luhanga, said labour productivity in Zambia contracted by 21 percent between 2019 and 2020.
Mr Luhanga said the Zambia Productivity Report indicated that only five industries registered positive growth in labour productivity.
These industries are electricity, mining and quarrying, water supply, sewerage and waste management, real estate and information and communication.
He was speaking in Lusaka today during the hybrid productivity sensitisation seminar for universities in Zambia.
Mr Luhanga stressed the need to enhance action towards addressing the low productivity statistics in the country.
He noted that universities have since been targeted as they are better placed to initiate and sustain the process of mindset transformation which is necessary for the country to attain the required levels of productivity.
The Acting Permanent Secretary said this is an essential prerequisite for Zambia to be able to effectively compete on a global level.
He has since challenged the universities to encourage research in productivity as this will help make higher education more relevant to the current and future needs of the country.
“The Ministry recognises tertiary institutions as breeding grounds for productivity growth, innovation and competitiveness. They also serve as primary sources of critical skills needed on the labour market,” Mr Luhanga noted.
Mr Luhanga further urged university communities to avail themselves as sources of solutions to the country’s problems.
And Ministry of Labour and Social Security National Productivity Director, Cyprian Mayamba, said there is need for students and higher learning institutions to look at productivity as an enabler to resolve challenges.
Mr Mayamba explained that today’s seminar enhances the need to adopt good productivity traits in various endeavors that students and institutions are engaged in.
He noted that arising from the discourse of the seminar, an action plan will be developed for students and higher learning institutions to contribute to Zambia’s productivity levels.
The seminar, which attracted 16 universities across the country, carried the theme; improve productivity for a better Zambia.
Please try to create a good environment for the citizens so that will be productive talk is cheap.
the most useless ministry of them all never done anything for the citizens
just waiting for muppets to blame upnd
Iwe they are talking of 2019 and 2020 when Upnd was not in office. In fact you should ask your muppets what was the status in 2021 and 2023…or are these muppets afraid of offending our father at State House?
Eff off! Tell us the situation now. You thugs