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President Hichilema Reaffirms Bold Step To Spur Economic Growth and Job Creation

President Hakainde Hichilema says the New Dawn Administration will strengthen local industries in order to promote economic growth.
Speaking during the labour day celebrations on May 1,2025 held in Mansa at Kaole stadium, under the theme: “Shaping Zambia’s Future of Work through home grown Solutions for Inclusive Economic Growth,” The Head of State said Government is devoted to promoting economic growth as it procreates jobs.
President Hichilema commended workers for their resilience and lauded employers,for improving the livelihood of workers when the
country experienced the worst drought.
“I would like to appreciate you for carrying the country through, during the worst drought in the country of Zambia. The fact that we were are able to grow our GDP from 2% to 4% is mbecause miners worked hard by increasing production. Workers in the tourism and private sector, you worked hard to contributing to the economy,” the President said.
“We will continue working to grow the economy, we know growth will breed more job opportunities. Your government will continue to work to lower the cost of living, to lower the cost of doing business.”
President Hichilema indicated that Government will reform the pension scheme to enhance benefits. He said the New Dawn Administration extended the NAPSA penalty waiver, to ease compliance during the decline in economic activities that were experienced during the drought.
The ahead of State said Zambia is now used as a yardstick, for providing a safety net for workers with progressive social security policies such as the 20% partial withdraw, whilst keeping the National Pensions Scheme Authority afloat.
President Hichilema made a clarion call employers, employees and Government to promote Tripartism through dialogue.
“Government employers and Unions must dialogue together. Let’s solve our problems not shouting in the streets, not shouting on social media,” he said.
The Head of State urged employers to adhere to the minimum wage requirements for Bus and Truck drivers, which came into effect on April 10, 2025 and allow workers to register with unions of their choice.
He also indicated that Government is committed to creating safe and decent work places, and Zambia has since ratified Convention 190, which protects workers against violence, discrimination and harassment.
The President urged the workforce to be productive, in order to produce more and spur economic growth.
Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Mwika Tambatamba (MP) said Government will create jobs within the Ministry, by expand the number of labour officers and recruit call centre agents, upon receiving treasury authority.
She said to increase engagement with the public, the Ministry has onboarded 29 services on the Government Service Bus(GSB), and the public can connect with the Ministry through the Citizens Support Services portal, for a timely response to their concerns and grievances.
Luapula Province minister Eng. Nason Musonda said the hosting of the Labour day celebrations in the province was historic,and a testament to the New Dawn administration’s commitment to inclusive development, equitable opportunities, and home grown solutions that drive the nation forward.
International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office, Officer-in-charge for Zambia Malawi and Mozambique, Todini Marecha commended Zambia for the 4% growth in Gross Domestic Products, despite the drought and energy deficit that the country experienced in the recent years.
Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) president Maira Ngoma says the youth ought to be engaged in policy and programming, to promote social dialogue and tripartism.
And Zambia Congress of Trade Unions president Blake Mulala called for concerted efforts in the fight against corruption.
The event concluded with employers being rewarded for their outstanding performance. Among the awardees are; Senior labor officer in Luapula Province, Nchimunya Abubakar, Senior Labour Inspector at Lusaka Headquarters, Ian Kayelu, Mubanga Geoffrey and Wokers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) accounts assistant for Mansa Branch, Ketiwe Chimponda. The National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) was awarded the best dressed.
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Driving Economic Growth Through Talent Localization: A China-Zambia Collaboration

Here are the highlights from the speech delivered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary, Zechariah Luhanga, at the Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) and Association of Chinese Corporations in Zambia (ACCZ) Seminar, 27th December, 2024:

  • The seminar focused on “Localisation of Talent Resources to Promote China-Zambia Economic and Trade Development,” addressing employer and employee challenges in labour management.
  • The Permanent Secretary emphasized the Government’s commitment to creating a conducive investment environment, recognizing the role of private sector investments, particularly by Chinese businesses, in job creation, skills development, and economic transformation.
  • Employers, especially Chinese companies, were urged to adhere to labour laws, with specific attention to providing safe working conditions, issuing employment contracts, and allowing unionization.
  • Businesses were encouraged to register human resource staff with the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management (ZIHRM) to reduce labour law misunderstandings and promote ethical business practices.
  • Participants were called to collaborate with the Government to address climate-related challenges affecting businesses and to build resilient production systems.
  • Social partners and associations were urged to organize more workshops to enhance dialogue between government and businesses, fostering compliance and cooperation for increased productivity.
  • Strong support was requested for government anti-corruption efforts, promoting transparency in business practices.
  • Participants were encouraged to actively engage in discussions and share ideas to strengthen employer-employee relationships and promote sustainable economic growth.

The speech concluded with the official opening of the workshop, reaffirming a shared commitment to ethical, productive, and transformative business practices.

ACCZ president 演讲Mr Liao’s Speech 27.12.2024 SG remarks at ZFE SPEECH BY PS MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY -ZFE – ACCZ WORKSHOP – 27 DECEMBER 2024

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MLSS AND CIJ SIGN MOU

The Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr. Zechariah Luhanga, gave a speech during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Chandler Institute of Justice (CIJ). The speech expressed the following highlights:
He emphasized the MOU’s focus on law reform, capacity building initiatives, and exchange of legal knowledge to enhance public governance and achieve sustainable development.
Cabinet approval for the amendment of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act and the Employment Code Act was mentioned as part of ongoing legal reforms.
He noted that an action plan for revising the two acts has been developed, with completion expected within six months.
The Chandler Institute recently trained legal officers from the Ministry in legislative drafting, which is expected to positively impact ministerial deliverables.
Mr. Luhanga detailed the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, emphasizing its alignment with ILO Convention 87 and its role in promoting workers’ rights, dispute resolution, and social dialogue.
The Employment Code Act was outlined as addressing workplace discrimination, employee entitlements, protection of wages, employment policies, and regulation of child labourChandler MOU Speech (1).
He underscored the importance of these laws in improving productivity, resolving skills mismatches, and fostering industrial harmony.
The Acting Permanent Secretary concluded by thanking the Chandler Institute of Justice for their support and partnership in achieving these milestones.
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SKILLS, PRODUCTIVITY AND JOBS SUMMIT PAVES THE WAY FOR TRANSFORMATION

The National Skills, Productivity and Jobs Summit comes to a successful conclusion.
During the closing remarks, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Tambatamba, expressed her deep gratitude to all participants, stakeholders, and organizers of the National Skills, Productivity, and Jobs Summit for their active engagement and contributions.
– She emphasized the critical role of the Summit in addressing Zambia’s core challenges, including skills mismatches, unemployment, and low productivity, and its significance in shaping a roadmap for economic transformation.
– The Minister highlighted key achievements of the Summit, including:
• Strengthened collaboration between the government, private sector, academia, and civil society.
• Identification of innovation, entrepreneurship, and digitalization as pivotal elements for economic progress.
• Acknowledgment of youth and human capital as drivers of sustainable development.
– She urged the private sector to actively invest in mentorship and skills development initiatives and called on educational institutions to align curricula with market demands to meet current economic needs.
– The Minister commended the role of cooperating partners in supporting government efforts and encouraged their continued involvement to foster the progress discussed during the Summit.
– She reassured participants of the Ministry’s commitment to:
• Creating conducive environments for job creation and skills enhancement.
• Driving innovation, productivity, and equity in opportunities.
• Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the policies and strategies identified.
– Hon. Tambatamba envisioned the Summit as a turning point for Zambia’s sustainable growth, suggesting its institutionalization as an annual event to track progress and foster collective action.
– In closing, she expressed optimism that with unified efforts, Zambia can achieve a prosperous future driven by a skilled and innovative workforce.
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PRESIDENT HICHILEMA OFFICIALLY OPENS THE NATIONAL SKILLS, PRODUCTIVITY AND JOBS SUMMIT

03rd December 2024… President Hakainde Hichilema addressed the Summit, in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Tambatamba, he emphasized Zambia’s focus on bridging skills gaps, boosting productivity, and creating decent jobs. Key highlights from the speech include:
• President Hakainde Hichilema highlighted the National Skills, Productivity, and Jobs Summit as a critical step in addressing Zambia’s economic challenges and fostering job creation, skills development, and productivity growth.
• He emphasized the importance of linking job seekers with employers, both locally and internationally, and improving skills to meet industry demands through internships, apprenticeships, and industrial attachments.
• The President stressed the need for technical and vocational education (TVET) and STEM fields to prepare the workforce for modern economic demands.
• Acknowledging Zambia’s surplus of skilled labour, particularly in education and health, he advocated exporting labour to reduce unemployment and boost global influence.
• He outlined the government’s focus on creating sustainable, decent jobs in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, mining, tourism, and IT.
• President Hichilema underlined the role of productivity as central to economic transformation and called for stronger collaboration among government, private sector, and educational institutions.
• He announced initiatives such as the Zambia National Service Skills Development Program and enhanced ICT access to equip citizens with digital and entrepreneurial skills.
• The speech also highlighted achievements in free education, construction of classroom blocks, and partnerships with the private sector to expand training opportunities.
• In conclusion, he called for stakeholders to turn summit discussions into actionable strategies for empowering citizens, improving productivity, and ensuring no one is left behind in Zambia’s development journey.
Below are some picture highlights from day 1 of the event.
Let’s turn discussions into action for a productive Zambia where no one is left behind.