PRESIDENT Mwanawasa says it is difficult for Government to reasonably improve conditions of service for its workers because some of the unionised employees aren involved in thefts and abuse of public resources.
“How can we improve workers’ conditions when money is being stolen and abused by your (trade union) members and workers are ever going on strike? It takes two to tangle and so both Government and the workers must be prudent in handling public resources,” he said.
Mr Mwanawasa said this in Lusaka yesterday during Labour Day celebrations.
He said this year’s theme contained important milestones, which were necessary ingredients in realising desired industrial harmony in the country.
Mr Mwanawasa said the milestones were healthy because they promoted a safe working environment and increased productivity.
“It is essential that as we commemorate this important day, we reflect seriously on our achievements with regard to promoting and sustaining workers’ rights and decent work through social dialogue.
“All these can be enhanced through measures and mechanisms that we have taken and established which are at our disposal as social partners,” he said.
Mr Mwanawasa said Government was committed to accelerating the realisation of this year’s Labour Day theme through the inclusion of a chapter on employment and labour in the Fifth National Development Plan and the implementation of the country’s decent work programme in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Mr Mwanawasa said social dialogue was an important means of sharing and exchanging ideas to resolve problems on the labour market.
He said Government had institutionalised social dialogue through the ratification of convention 144, of 1976, which had been domesticated through the Industrial and Labour Relations Act Cap 269 of the Laws of Zambia.
Mr Mwanawasa said through this Act, Government was obliged to meet its social partners not less than twice a year to exchange views on labour matters, human resource development and issues that included legislation, policies and programmes.
He said regular labour inspections should be complemented by educational awareness campaigns with regard to the provisions of the Employment Act, the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act and the Factories Act.
He said promoting and sustaining workers’ rights required concerted efforts by stakeholders.
Mr Mwanawasa said workers should be educated on the provisions of the labour laws so that they could claim their rights.
He said government on its part would endeavour to maintain a sound industrial relations climate for conducting business.
The President said under the decent work programme for Zambia which Government in collaboration with ILO was developing, greater employment opportunities would be created and adequate social protection provided.
He also said workers’ rights would be respected while meaningful social dialogue among social partners would be guaranteed.
“Having taken these measures, Government will concentrate on facilitating the creation of more jobs to absorb school leavers and graduates into gainful employment.
To create more opportunities for decent employment, Government has introduced a number of intervention measures in the FNDP,†he said.
Mr Mwanawasa said with regard to social protection, Government had already started implementing social security reforms to ensure harmonisation of fragmented schemes in the country and to improve the coverage and delivery of services.
The President has since instructed the Minister of Labour and Social Security Ronald Mukuma to finalise the social security policy, which would also carter for workers in the informal sector.
“In this regard, the informal sector operators and individual players in the economy may contribute to the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA),†he said.
Mr Mwanawasa also said child labour should be tackled through a multi-dimensional approach involving various stakeholders.
The President also appealed to members of Parliament to consult their electorate before making laws.
And President Mwanawasa took a swipe at some employers who did not have representation at the celebrations.
“Some of these employers invited me when they were opening their companies, but now they don’t want to see me.
Let them not call me for any event if they are not prepared to dance with their employees.
“While we are happy that they are making money and that there is a level of industrial peace, we are not happy that they are not giving us support,” he said.
