Read labour laws, minister tells workers

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 12:02:41 +0000

By CHINTU MALAMBO

EMPLOYEES should take time to read and understand labour laws for them to know their rights and obligations, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Joyce Nonde- Simukoko has advised.

Ms Simukoko said that it was unfortunate that most workers did not take interest in reading the laws that concern them to have a better understanding of their entitlements.

She said that it was through embracing a reading culture that workers would be able to defend their rights.

“If workers are having challenges, they must go and talk to the trade unions that they are affiliated to because those people are there to talk on their behalf, but now it’s like so many workers do not know their rights because they do not read.

“I have been telling workers to find time to just look at that legislation, it is so small, find out what you are entitled to as a worker, even those who do not have trade unions,” she said.

Ms Simukoko said that the labour laws were available on the Ministry of Labour website for every employee to read.

She said that it was important to understand certain things that were of concern to workers for the enlightening of their well-being.

Ms Simukoko charged that people were so busy looking at the postings on social media at the expense of important issues.

“Instead of reading what is on the social media, you are not empowering yourselves. God has said ‘My people perish because of lack of knowledge’, so let’s read and know what our rights are,” she said.

Ms Simukoko called on trade unions to work closely with her ministry to create conducive working conditions for Zambian workers in both public and private sectors.

“The trade unions must move in and put everything in order and if they fail to do anything, they are supposed to write a report to the Ministry of Labour to say you can now come in and help us so that we can move forward with the provision of better conditions for our workers,” she said.