Maravi

‘Dignified wages will bring harmony in industrial relations’

‘Dignified wages will bring harmony in industrial relations’
By Fridah Zinyama
Wed 18 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT

ZAMBIANS for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Dr Fred Mutesa has demanded that government puts its house in order and provide the necessary political leadership to transform industrial relations in the nation.

Last week, Konkola Copper Mines workers rioted demanding for better conditions of service, saying they wanted to benefit from the good copper prices on the international market.

Commenting on the protracted differences between the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and President Rupiah Banda, Dr Mutesa said employers, particularly those that were making huge profits like the mine owners, should seriously consider fairness in the way they remunerated their employees.

“Without workers there can be no production. Labour must be respected and given the due dignity through good conditions of service and adequate wages,” he said.

Dr Mutesa said paying dignified wages to employees would ensure a harmonious climate of industrial relations in Zambia.

“The story of rioting Konkola Copper Mines workers should be a matter of grave concern to all of us,” he said. “A harmonious climate of industrial relations will, however, not happen without concerted efforts by the authorities to promote development with equity.”

Dr. Mutesa said the announcement by labour minister Austin Liato on setting up of a tripartite committee to review legislation on the minimum wage which currently stands at K268, 000 per month was long overdue as employers had been taking advantage of their employees due to weak laws.

“In all sincerity, this move is long overdue. Government should not just pride itself in its ability to attract foreign investment into the country,” he said. “It’s a well known fact that capital without labour cannot produce anything.”

Dr Mutesa said his party was a strong advocate of labour empowerment.

“The empowerment of labour includes paying the workers a living wage, ensuring the highest standards of safety and occupational health and protecting the rights of workers,” he said.

Dr Mutesa said the riot by KCM miners was not an isolated case, as rioting in Zambia had become the main negotiating tool by workers in the collective bargaining process.

“This is happening because of weaknesses in the Industrial relations Act,” said Dr Mutesa. “Government has been talking about reviewing labour laws in this country for a long time and no concrete action has been taken.”

Labels: FRED MUTESA, KCM, ZED

posted by MrK @ 4:44 PM