By Irvin Muyumbwa
GOVERNMENT says the recent stand-off which led to a go-slow by lecturers at the Northern Technical College (NORTEC) in Ndola over unpaid gratuity and the need to advertise the position of principal, has been has been resolved.
Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati said in an interview this has been done after the ministry entered a mutual agreement with staff for constructive resolution of disputes.
Mr Mutati said a roadmap was agreed upon on how to dismantle the amounts owed in gratuity and other arrears, an approach which government will use to engage and create solutions.
The minister said the situation at NORTEC has stabilised after the constructive resolution of the problems with the lecturers reaching a mutually accepted path on the problems.
On November 18, 2021, lecturers and staff at NORTEC petitioned the Ministry of Technology and Science to advertise the position of principal and also complained that they were demotivated.
The petition was on unpaid gratuities exceeding K20 million dating back to 2019, non-remittance of NAPSA contributions since 2019, debt standing at above K22m and removal of employees whose contracts end from the payroll.
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