Government has with immediate effect suspended the operations of Alistair Logistics Group of companies in Solwezi district for contravening the labour laws.

Provincial Assistant Labour Commissioner, Harrison Mwale says the move follows the company’s variation of its employees contract, on a permanent and pensionable basis before expiration thereby forcing them to forfeit their gratuity.

Mr Mwale said this in Solwezi today when he served the company with a notice of suspension of further operation due to violation of labour laws.

“I refer to my conversation I had with your Group Human Resource Manager, Mr. Anthon Eppel late last year regarding your decision to force your workers to forfeit their gratuity when you decided to vary contract and place them on permanent and pensionable basis about a month before expiration.

“ This Ministry therefore, has suspended works for this company pursuant to section 10 (a) and (b) of the employment Code, Act No.3 of 2019 until further notice,” the letter read in part.

Despite several advice to the company to first let the contracts expire and pay workers gratuity before putting them on permanent and pensionable contract, it was discovered that workers were being intimidated and threatened to lose their jobs if they never consented to the proposal, Mr Mwale is quoted in the same statement.

The Labour Commissioner said any agreement made and based on the forfeiture of gratuity must be declared null and void.

Mr Mwale said the notice is with immediate effect and will remain so until all the workers are paid their gratuity, adding that during this period all workers will stay home and on full pay until remedial measures are complied with.

“Further pursuant to section 133 (1) (f) of the employee Code, Act no.3 of 2019, we hereby, impose on your company a financial penalty of 200,000 penalty units equivalent to K60,000 and note that you may wish to appeal to the high court against this administrative sanction within 30 days of receipt of this sanction,” he said.

A company employee who sought anonymity said everything has been left in the hands of management to associate with the ministry of labour and social security over the matter.

And the employees’ representative, Kelvin Chashele, , a boiler maker, thanked the department of labour and social security for the move.

“This move has come at a right time, we were being forced to do things which we were not supposed to by the company, so we are really grateful to government for coming to our aid,” he said.

The Department was acting on complaints received from the workers by the company’s decision to vary the contract, backdate it to 2020 and place them on permanent and pensionable basis about a month before expiration and forcing them to forfeit their gratuity.

The government has commenced the process of formulating the 8th National Development plan.

Secretary to the Cabinet Simon Miti said the 7NDP is coming to an end in December 2021 hence the formulation of the 8th National Development plan, which is set to focus on reform and recovery.

Dr Miti said all Ministries and Provinces are part of the important process of formulating the 8th NDP.

He said this in a speech during the First 2021 Senior Public Service Management Virtual Meeting held in Lusaka today.

Dr Miti urged all Senior Government Officials to continue playing an active role to ensure that the plan addresses national development needs, now and beyond.

“Further, you will recall that President Edgar Lungu launched the economic recovery programme 2020-2023 on 17th December 2020,” he said.

Dr Miti stated that the economic recovery programme launched by the President is aimed at restoring growth and safeguarding livelihoods through Macroeconomic stability, Economic diversification, as well as debt sustainability.

ZANIS reports that Dr Miti has since directed the Ministries of National Development Planning and Finance to ensure that there is synergy in the implementation of both plans.

And The Secretary to Cabinet added that President Lungu directed his office to accelerate the decentralization of functions to the local authorities.

“The President during his address to Parliament on National values and Principles also informed the nation that government would expedite the implementation of the decentralization programme,” he said.

The Secretary to the Cabinet further urged Permanent Secretaries who have not started the process of delegating functions to local authorities to do so with urgency.

Dr Miti said decentralization will enhance the rationalization of government operations and institutions.

He however disclosed that Zambia fully acceded to the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement of the 5th of February 2021, meaning the country will be able to trade under the rules of the Continental free trade area.

He urged the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry to expedite the development and implementation of measures that will enhance government’s capacity to favorably compete both in the domestic and export markets.

The Secretary to Cabinet further disclosed that in 2017, his office rolled out performance-based contracts for Permanent Secretaries, commending the PS’s for participating in the recent review of their performance in 2020 and signing of their 2021 contracts.

He urged the PS’s to be committed to achieving the agreed upon targets saying they can only achieve their targets if they are aligned to their departmental work plans and working teams with their subordinates.

The Secretary to the Cabinet further called on Permanent Secretaries to fully support the electoral process in a non-partisan manner.

“As we prepare for elections, let us not lose sight of our core responsibility of facilitating National Development through the provision of public services,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Miti reminded the PS’s that support should be given to the electoral process, including Law and Order for a smooth election in August this year.

The government has raised concern with the increased financial irregularities reported annually in the Auditor General’s Report. Secretary to the Cabinet Simon Miti says his office will not tolerate any more misuse of public resources, adding that this should come to a halt.

Dr Miti implored all senior government officials to ensure that high levels of integrity, morality, ethical and professional conduct, become an integral part of their operations, procurement and financial management processes.

In a speech read during the First 2021 Senior Public Service Management Virtual Meeting held today, Dr Miti said his office expects zero audit queries from all ministries, provinces and spending agencies, going forward.

“For the first time, the office has taken action against officers cited for financial irregularities in the Auditor General’s Report for 2019, in order to demonstrate our resolve to this cause,” he said.

ZANIS reports that Dr Miti has since directed all Permanent Secretaries to ensure that appropriate corrective and disciplinary action is taken immediately an offence is committed.

He added that Senior Government Officials are expected to follow procedure, guidelines and regulations provided in various legislations, in the discharge of duties.

Dr Miti indicated that the Cabinet Office will not protect anyone flouting or operating outside the laid down guidelines and procedures.

He further urged Senior Officials to underscore the importance of National Values and Principles that President Edgar Lungu highlighted when he addressed parliament on February 12, 2021 as they discharge their duties.

“To be senior managers in the public service should be seen as an honour and privilege, which should not be taken for granted. It comes with responsibilities and accountability to the people of Zambia,” he said.

The Secretary to Cabinet also reminded the Senior Government Officials of the concerns raised with regards to the slow pace of implementation of cabinet decisions, which were announced during the 7th meeting held in February 2020.

“The Concerns I raised included, improvement of non-tax revenue generation, land titling, consolidation of investment and empowerment funds, telecommunication traffic monitoring system for mobile service providers, youth empowerment, cannabis cultivation for medicinal and economic purposes and opportunities for gold mining and trade in Zambia,” he highlighted.

He said he expects to receive updates from respective PS’s on the progress made in implementing the programmes.

Meanwhile, Dr Miti urged Permanent Secretaries to be proactive, using the best available tools to ensure that the country is secure at all times.

He added that PS’s are supposed to be alert to unforeseen disasters affecting the country as it is their duty and responsibility.

He reiterated the importance of innovation and creativity under the “New Normal” in the provision of public service, such as utilization of virtual platforms.

Vice President Inonge Wina says government is concerned with the rampant vandalism of installations and other public infrastructure by some unscrupulous people.

Mrs Wina says this development is unacceptable and retrogressive considering the progress Zambia has made in developing the telecommunications sector in Zambia.

The Vice President was speaking in Lusaka during the handover ceremony of Zamtel Call Centre functions to Client Care Solutions Zambia Limited.

Mrs Wina said damage to public infrastructure is a serious offence which attracts severe punishment and has warned that perpetrators will be dealt with accordingly.

She has since called on citizens to desist from engaging in the scourge as it retards national development.

And Mrs Wina said the handover of the Center is a demonstration of government’s desire to support the growth of local micro, small and medium enterprises.

She expressed happiness with the launch of the new call center company to be managed and operated by young Zambian entrepreneurs, who are former Zamtel employees.

Mrs. Wina has applauded Zamtel Board and Management on their bold decision to release their Call Centre and outsource the service commercially to a team of young entrepreneurs.

Mrs. Wina said Government celebrates the young entrepreneurs for choosing to embrace the call by Government to grow themselves and others through entrepreneurship.
The Vice President has since urged other business entities in Zambia to emulate Zamtel and support Clients Care Solutions.

And Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta said the decision by Zamtel to outsource a call center will enhance service delivery to Zamtel customers.

Mr Mupeta said the development will further help in empowering the youths adding that the Company has empowered its employees to participate in the management of customer services as entrepreneurs.

Mr. Mupeta said Zamtel thought it wise to empower Zambians as a way of contributing towards the growth of local entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, Clients Care Solutions Board Chairperson Malcolm Chabala said the outsourcing of a Zambian Company will not only empower youths but also play a key role in job creation.

Mr. Chabala said the Company has 180 employees and plans to increase the number to 320 as the company expands.