Thu, 13 Apr 2017 09:44:41 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) has resolved to merge to form one trade union mother body which will be called Trade Union Confederation – Zambia (TUC-Zambia).
ZCTU has over 40 affiliates while FFTUZ has 13.
FFTUZ president Chingati Msiska said it was expected that affiliated trade union from all sectors would also merge to strengthen the workers bargaining power which had been reduced because of fragmentation of workers’ organisations.
Mr. Msiska told a media briefing yesterday said that while trade unions uphold freedom of association, they had conceded that it was a double-edged sword which must be exercised with responsibility.
“Our resolve is to build a strong labour movement in Zambia which is above personal ambition but to serve the workers through improving their living standards while at the same time promoting higher productivity and greater efficiency,” Mr. Msiska said.
He said the decision was arrived at after several meetings which started in 2016 and chaired by the Labour Institute of Zambia (LIZ).
Mr. Msiska said the decision to merge was resolved on Friday April 7, 2017 in Chisamba by executive committees from FFTUZ and ZCTU.
And Mr. Chingati said the FFTUZ had observed with deep concern that nothing tangible was happening at the Intermarket Banking Corporation as it was still closed and there was no further feedback from the authorities regarding the matter.
“We, therefore, appeal to the central bank to expedite the process of re-opening the bank.
We are also urging them to immediately give a statement as to when exactly the bank is going to re-open as that will also help the workers, creditors, and depositors plan adequately and reduce anxiety,” Mr. Msiska said.
Commenting on the state of the economy, Mr. Msiska said the steadying of the exchange rate, drop in inflation, the rise of copper prices on international market, and a good crop harvest expected this year were good signs for the country. He, however, said FFTUZ’s view was that the country’s economy remained fragile though certain factors did provide a glimmer of hope.
“Notwithstanding, we are saddened that the country’s external debt burden has continued going up and is now about US$7 billion that is without the domestic debt which is said to be around US$3 billion.
“Besides, there are genuine concerns that the country may not pay back its first Eurobond of US$750 million when it falls due in 2022. If these concerns are proven right, the future of this country does not look appealing,” he said.
And Mr. Msiska has appealed to Government and ZESCO to immediately suspend their intentions to increase electricity tariffs by 75 percent this year.
“For us we do not support the plan to raise the tariffs by such a huge margin because it poses serious economic and financial strain on the country with workers and the poor to be the most affected,” Mr. Msiska said.
