By GIDEON NYENDWA
AN uproar over some draconian labour laws which have collapsed business and led to mass job losses have forced the government to embark on a rigorous assessment to determine the extent of damage in an effort to take appropriate corrective measures.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba said the government would review the labour laws if found to be cumbersome.
The Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) said 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 and led to massive job losses.
Ms. Tambatamba said the government will assess the labour laws and recommend charges where need will be found because it was their duty to act when people cry out.
“We are actively getting around to do those assessments at the moment,” she said.
She said it is their duty to go back to the tripartite consultative council where the leadership of the national unions, ZFE and government meet and table matters that were being raised.
Ms. Tambatamba said it was at such forums like the tripartite consultative council that the issues on the labour laws can be deliberated, make consultations and agree where there is need to make the legal reforms.
She said the government has to listen to both the employers and the employees and come to a collective agreement before the changes can be made.
Ms. Tambatamba also said she was going around in different places to get a feel of what is on the ground to understand the sector better as the new head of the ministry.
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