By KETRA KALUNGA
DRACONIAN labour laws that have led to mass job losses must be immediately repealed, the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has demanded.
The Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) also warned that compelling companies to give employees housing allowance, medical care, gratuity and overtime pay equal to 150 percent of a particular employee’s base hourly had greatly affected businesses.
ZCTU general secretary Cosmus Mukuka, said there was urgent need for the country to change its employment law to protect businesses from collapse and prevent job losses.
Mr Mukuka said in an interview that the government should also look at the trade and commercial laws and Industrial Labour Relations Act to bring about equilibrium in the way business is conducted.
“It’s very necessary to review certain laws even on how to do business, we are supposed to change the laws, some of the employment laws are supposed to be changed,” he said.
Mr Mukuka said the government should ensure that the decent work agenda is put into law other than just reviewing statutory instruments to do with minimum wages.
He urged the government to put in place a system where the business world, trade unions, employers and government meet regularly to regulate labour matters.
And ZFE executive director, Harrington Chibanda, said some labour laws should be reviewed especially those that make it costly for companies to operate.
He said in an interview that there are provisions in the current labour laws that make the running of business costly.
Mr Chibanda said there is need for a balanced approach to labour laws that would favour both the employee and the employer.
“We want a balanced approach to labour laws not one that exploits workers but at the same time not make it difficult for businesses to survive,” he said.
