Arrest Shoprite managers for breaking the law - Shamenda

Arrest Shoprite managers for breaking the law - Shamenda
By Agness Changala
Sun 03 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT

SHOPRITE management should be arrested for breaking labour laws in the country, according to Fackson Shamenda. And Shoprite workers on Friday evening returned to work after assurances by management through the union that their grievances were being addressed and that the money they are owed will be paid.

Commenting on Shoprite management's attempt to fire all its striking unionised workers on Thursday, Shamenda, the former president of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions, said instead of attempting to dismiss workers, management should be arrested for failing to implement what is due to them.

He said it was unreasonable for Shoprite management to treat workers in the manner it did when they were only fighting for their rights.

Shamenda said it was further wrong for Shoprite management to attempt to fire unionised workers who were on strike for only four days when it had failed to address their grievances for a long time.

“Those issues started a long time ago and the workers have been patient enough and it is sad that the government which failed to condemn the strike at Electoral Commission of Zambia, a critical institution is now condemning the strike by Shoprite workers instead of siding with them, “Shamenda said.

He said it was sad that workers in Zambia were always at the receiving end because the government had decided to side with employers.

Shamenda said the bias of the government towards employers had even made it difficult for the union to be effective.

He charged that Shoprite was taking Zambians for granted by offering them poor conditions of service compared to their colleagues in South Africa.

Shamenda said if Shoprite has found it difficult to operate in Zambia, it must go and people will shop elsewhere.

And ZCTU public relations manager Martin Chembe said it was immoral for Shoprite management to threaten workers with dismissals at a time the meetings to resolve the matter were being held.

He said Shoprite management's action showed that it does not respect the labour laws governing industrial relations.

Chembe said the labour movement will not allow foreign investors to focus on profit maximisation without paying any attention to the welfare of workers.

“Workers should not be used as tools for production,” said Chembe.

Zambia National Youth League (ZNYL) president Eric Chanda said the MMD government has never taken interest in protecting the Zambian workers, especially the youths who are mistreated and abused.

He said youths must unite and demand a government that will protect the Zambian workers, and youths in particular.

Chanda said it was clear that MMD government had no political will and leadership capacity to protect the Zambian citizens and re-enforce the labour laws in the interest of Zambian citizens.

And the workers on Friday returned to work after four days of strike action.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the union and Shoprite management, the company will by June 1, 2011 transfer to the credit of eligible employees, 50 per cent of their service benefits with interest and that the balance shall be transferred over a period of five years.

It stated that the balance to each participating individual in the Fund will be transferred in installments by September 1, 2012.

The union and Zambian managers for Shoprite agreed and accepted that the agreement constitutes a full and final settlement of all and any claims which it and its members and employees of the company may have concerning the past service liability K 16 billion.

On Monday last week, Shoprite workers across the country withdrew their labour over the long standing grievances regarding their K16 billion contributions which are supposed to be remitted to African Life Insurance.