GOVERNMENT APLAUDS FQM FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has created partnership with First Quantum Minerals LTD., to promote skills development on the Labour Market.
During a courtesy visit paid to Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Mwika Tambatamba (MP), by the mine’s Government relations specialist Mwiza Malila and Winnie Kakunta, Government relations superintendent, FQM dedicated itself to help Government identify skill gaps within the community, create training programs and assist in funding skills development.
Ms. Malila said industry-led apprenticeship, among other skills development partnerships, will be promoted by the company, as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Honourable Tambatamba commended FQM for its demand-driven skills development initiative, as it will equip community members in its vicinity and beyond, with skills that are relevant to the market especially in mining to see to it that Government meets its target of three million tons of copper production per year.
Ms. Tambatamba said sensitization on career development is a positive step, however companies should look beyond it, for skillfulness.
“This is the space we are looking at, especially that this government, in particular the President has declared that skills are available even when somebody has not been to school,” she said.
The minister said Government has demonstrated that the skills bursary under the Constituency Development Fund(CDF) is equipping people with relevant skills needed on the labour market and contributes towards economic growth.
“We would like to see many players come to the table on this one, to help us to buy the best(skills) that can also inform policy direction and legislation. We are in the process of amending the apprenticeship Act to work-based learning. Get someone who has a skill and train them,” said Honorable Tambatamba.
“We look forward to engaging with you on that aspect (skills development initiative). Anything that has to do with workers and employers is our business. Anything that has to do with productivity is our business. Let workers understand work, let people define what work is. We need the whole nation to rally behind work as a development agenda.”
29th January, 2025.

ZAMBIA DEPOSITS INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION FOR CONVENTION 190

Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Labour and Social Security

Press Release (For Immediate release)
ZAMBIA DEPOSITS Instrument of Ratification FOR COONVENTION 190
Lusaka, 24th January, 2025…Zambia has today deposited the Ratification of the International
Labour Organization Convention on Violence and Harassment, 2019 (C190) at the ILO
Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
On August 13, 2024 Government endorsed the International Labour Organisation Convention on
Violence and Harassment, 2019 (C190) on 13th August, 2024 which is aimed at addressing
violence and harassment in the Work place.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mulambo Haimbe, M.P signed the
Instrument of Ratification Last year and the same was registered on 13th December, 2024 by the
ILO Director-General Mr Gilbert Houngbo.
The Convention 190 is an international treaty signed by Ilo member countries tailored to eradicate
all forms of violence and harassment in the world of work, which may result into demoralization,
ineptitude and low self- esteem among the affected victims if left unattended.
Convention 190 is also focused on protecting workers, volunteers, apprentices, job seekers and
interns in both the public and private sector.
The treaty is accompanied by Recommendation No. 206, which sets measures to stop violence and
harassment through domestication in policies and existing legislation, promote gender-sensitive
blueprint to fight harassment, provide support to victims, hold perpetrators accountable.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Switzerland Eunice M.T. Luambia, on behalf of the Government of
Zambia, handed over the Instrument of Ratification to Mr Houngbo in the presence of Zambia’s
secretary legal, Ms Ms. Musonda C. Ulaya.
Speaking during the Depository Ceremony, Mr Houngbo was delighted that, Zambia had made
stride in promoting decent work by endorsing the convention, making it the 47th Country out of
the total ILO membership to sign the treaty; and was the tenth Country in Africa to ratify the
Instrument.
The ILO Director-General hoped that the ratification by Zambia would encourage other countries
to do the same.
Ambassador Ulambia assured the ILO Director-General that Zambia was committed to
eliminatingof workplace violence and harassment to set up a strong and dynamic middle-income
industrial Nation, that provides equitable opportunities for improving the well-being of workers.
“From a gender perspective, this occasion is even more nostalgic for me as I reflect on the progress
made so far in the advancement of gender-equality, and yet profound inequalities still persist
particularly for rights of women and girls in the world of work,” said Ambassador Ulambia.
“Convention 190 acknowledges the fact that gender-based violence and harassment
disproportionately affects women and girls. Overall, Zambia acknowledges that workplace
violence and harassment negatively impacts workers’ health and safety and their overall wellbeing,
which in turn diminishes productivity and thus impedes economic gains and progress.”
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security reiterates its obligation to end violence and Harassment
in the world of work, in line with the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals to promote
gender equality and decent work for all.
Government therefore calls for concerted effort among employers, Trade Unions, and other
stakeholders in raising awareness about the rights of employees and employers under convention
190, by providing support to victims of violence and harassment; and employers should see to it
they review and update their internal policies, so that they can tally with the provisions of the
convention in attaining the zero tolerance for violence and harassment.
Government will see to it that it raises awareness about the effects of violence, provide training for
human resource officers and set framework to end all forms of violence and harassment.
Issued by:
(Original Signed Copy)
Mwaka Ndawa(Miss)
Principal Public Relations Officer.

Mandatory Submission of Labour Statistics

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security reminds all employers of their legal obligation to submit employment relationship statistics as required under the Employment Code Act No. 3 of 2019. Non-compliance will result in penalties.

Employers must complete the Labour Statistics Submission Form available here and submit it via:

  • Email: info@mlss.gov.zm
  • Hard Copies:
    The Labour Commissioner
    Ministry of Labour and Social Security
    New Government Complex
    Independence Avenue, P.O. Box 32186, Lusaka

Timely submission ensures compliance with Sections 12, 22, and 50 of the Employment Code Act and supports the development of policies to improve the labour market.

GOVERNMENT CAUTIONS AGAINST THE UNDERPAYING OF NON-UNIONIZED WORKERS.

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY

 

PRESS STATEMENT

GOVERNMENT CAUTIONS AGAINST THE UNDERPAYING OF NON-UNIONIZED WORKERS.

 

Lusaka, 16th January, 2025… To protect vulnerable employees and keep pace with the cost of living, Government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has increased the minimum wages for bus and truck drivers with a K1,000 and K800.

The buses are those which are public service vehicles licensed to carry 40 or more passengers while the trucks are those public service vehicles licensed to carry goods.

Announcing the new minimum wages on January 16, 2025, Minister of Labour and Social Security honourable Brenda Tambatamba indicated that bus drivers will no longer be earning K2, 200 as their basic pay, but will now be earning K3, 000, while truck drivers will now be paid K4,000 as their basic pay from K3,000.

Government had noted that the conditions for drivers were not promising and resolved to revise the minimum wages and its resolve was communicated to stakeholders in the transportation sector by the Labour commissioner, Mr. Givens Muntengwa, on December 31, 2024, following the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council (TCLC) meeting that was held to revise the minimum wages for bus and truck drivers.

During the stakeholder engagement, Zambia congress of trade unions president, Blake Mulala, expressed worry with the non-compliance of minimum wages.

Stakeholders were hopeful that the wages would help to mitigate disputes in the transport sector.

The revised wages were approved by cabinet following a plea by workers after considering submissions from stakeholders.

This will cater for the vulnerable employees who are not affiliated to any union and who earn less wages set out in the minimum wage orders and do not affect unionized drivers earning good wages.

Honourable Tambatamba said that the revision of the salaries for bus and truck drivers is contained in Statutory Instrument No.3 of 2025 as published in the Government gazette on January 10, 2025 and will take effect on April 10, 2025.

Cross-border subsistence allowances have also been increased by Five Dollars (US$5).

Allowances have been increased from US$25 per night to US$30 per night in an event where the truck does not have a sleeping cabin.

In instances where the truck has a sleeping cabin, an allowance of US$20 per night will be allotted to the driver instead of US$15 per night.

Paragraph (2) of section of the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (truck and bus drivers) Order, SI No. 106 of 2020 was also amended to expand the list of dangerous goods which now includes; explosives, flammable gases and liquids as well as flammable solids, oxidizing substances; toxic substances; infectious substances and radioactive substances.

The bus and truck drivers’ wages were introduced in 2020 under the new Employment Code Act and were last reviewed in 2022.

Honorable Tambatamba has cautioned employers against paying non-unionized workers below the minimum wages and conditions of employment.

On the other hand, she emphasized the need for employers to allow workers to be part of unions and engage in collective bargaining processes.

 

Issued by:

(Official copy signed)

Mwaka Ndawa (Miss)

Principal Public Relations Officer.

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY ON THE REVISION OF THE MINIMUM WAGES FOR BUS AND TRUCK DRIVERS

SI No. 3 of 2025_ Truck and Bus drivers Minimum Wage Press statement for Bus and Truck Drivers SI (7) (2)

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY

 

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY ON THE REVISION OF THE MINIMUM WAGES FOR BUS AND TRUCK DRIVERS

16TH JANUARY, 2025­­­­­­­­­­­

  1. I wish to update the nation that Cabinet at its 25th Special Meeting on 17th December, 2024, approved the recommendation by the Minister of Labour and Social Security to revise the minimum wages and conditions of employment for the Bus and Truck Drivers in order to take into account the cost of living and inflation.
  2. As per tenets of tripartism and social dialogue, social partners were engaged so as appreciate the need for the revision of the minimum wages for Bus and Truck Drivers.
  3. It is important to note that the Statutory Instruments are to be reviewed every two years upon recommendation from the Labour Advisory Committee according to the provisions of section 101 of the Employment Code Act, which states that –

“101. The functions of the Labour Advisory Committee are to— (a) inquire into the wages and conditions of employment in any undertaking or sector in order to recommend minimum wages and conditions of employment; and

(b) review at least every two years and make recommendations, to the Minister, on the minimum wages and conditions of employment for any group of employees;”

The Bus and Truck Drivers Statutory Instrument was partially reviewed in 2022 and in that regard, it was due for review in 2024.

 

  1. As the public may recall, in November, 2023, three statutory instruments were reviewed and issued for Domestic workers, Shop Workers and General Workers’ Orders for all other categories which were effective in January, 2024. On the other hand, the bus and truck drivers’ minimum wages were not reviewed at that time. The review of the Bus and Truck Drivers’ legislation, therefore, completes the set of minimum wages orders for employees falling under the regulation of the statutory instruments.

 

  1. Government wishes to make a clarion call that employers must allow employees to join trade unions and engage in collective bargaining which takes into consideration a company’s financial position vis-a-viz profit made so that employees benefit from what they have contributed to the businesses. Employers should, therefore, embrace union activities because the minimum wage statutory instrument may not take into account different companies’ financial capabilities. In other words, there can be discontentment on the part of workers in a company that is reaping good profits as they would feel short changed. The opposite is true as equally companies may also struggle to meet the requirements of the minimum wages.
  2. The revised minimum wages are therefore as follows;
Category Old Minimum Wage New Minimum Wage
Bus Drivers K2,200 K3,000
Truck Drivers K3,000 K4,000

 

 

Subsistence allowances Old New
1 Where the employer does not provide, or pay for accommodation for the driver while on duty;

Or where the truck does not have a sleeping cabin

Not less than USD25 per night Not less than USD30 per night
2 Where a truck has a sleeping cabin USD15 per night USD20 per night

The Statutory Instrument will also include a list of dangerous goods in line with international standards.  The list is as follows:

 

  1. Explosives;
  2. Flammable gases;
  3. Flammable liquids;
  4. Flammable solids;
  5. Oxidizing substances;
  6. Toxic substances; infectious substances; and
  7. Radioactive substances.

 

  1. The nation is guided that the new statutory instrument will become operational on 10th April, 2025, three (3) months after its publication.

TAMBATAMBA CALLS FOR AN EXPANSION OF THE WORKFORCE

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Press Release
TAMBATAMBA CALLS FOR AN EXPANSION OF THE WORKFORCE
Lusaka, 10th January, 2025… Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba (MP)
says government has come up with interventions to increase the workforce on the labour market
that will contribute towards the economy.
To this effect she has called on the labour movement and labour sector to work hand in glove.
Speaking during the opening of the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ)
advisory council meeting this morning, Honorable Tambatamba advised the labour movement to
continue creating a favorable climate for the private sector to also flourish.
“Provide an enabling environment to reboot the private sector. We have the Public Dialogue
Forum (PPDF) where government is vigorously pushing the agenda to bring in sub-platforms to
ensure that we drive not only the private sector but ensuring that we set a base for the upcoming
future private sector companies in the Informal sector,” she said.
“With the CDF we have seen how government is driving the broadening of employment out
there in places where we typically would not be looking out for job creation. It used to happen
but not deliberately.”
The minister said government has continued employing public sevice workers and looks forward
to enlist more workers on the labour market and refine labour policies.
Honorable Tambatamba urged the FFTUZ and affiliate unions to promote worker education in
order to bridge the skills gap on the labour market.
She said government is spearheading the implementation of the national labour migration
strategy to promote well-regulated export of labour, skill transfers and facilitation of remittances
of revenue to the treasury.
“May I remind you and the nation that in the Interest of improving the economic welfare of the
workers in Zambia, the new dawn government has continued championing the decent work
agenda through labour law reforms. Cabinet approved in principle the amendment of some of our
labour laws, namely, the industrial and labour relations act cap 269, the employment code act no.
3 of 2019, the factories act number 441 and occupational health and safety act number 36 of
2010 of the laws of Zambia,” she said.
The minister noted with concern that most of the newly formed trade unions are failing to
represent their members due to lack of proper orientation on operation of the labour movement,
as well as the infights amongst the labour unions which have a negative effect on advocating for
the interests of affiliated members.
She urged FFTUZ to remain resolute to serve the people in various economic sectors.
And FFTUZ president Muyawa Kabisa encouraged unity among affiliate members to ensure that
the disputes that engulf unions do not pose as a hindrance in serving the members.
He said the revitalizing of the mining industry, the employment of more staff in the health and
education sectors, are some of the actions that give hope to the working class as it is an
indication that the country will pull through the economic predicament.
Mr Kabisa commended government for setting up a Presidential Delivery Unit to “fast track
development priorities and deliver better public services, and future gain for the citizenry.
“With this unit reporting directly to the President, we believe the President and his cabinet, will
be able to timely address the pressing challenges our country is facing,” said Mr Kabisa.
Issued by:
(Official copy signed)
Mwaka Ndawa (Miss)
Principal Public Relations Officer

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY DEVOTED TO END CHILD LABOUR

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has reaffirmed its commitment to stop child labour through the legal framework and sensitization programs.

Speaking when he featured on Worker’s Voice on ZNBC Radio 2, on Tuesday, Labour inspector, Ian Kayelu indicated that the public needs to be knowledgeable about the difference between child labour and child work.

Mr. Kayelu said that according to the Employment Code Act no.3 of 2019, the dissimilarities between the two are that; child labour is any work that deprives a child of development; emotionally, physically and morally while child work is a chore that equips a child with skills.

“Parents should know the distinction between the two in order to build a child positively making them more productive,” he said.

“Child labour is illegal, while child work is permitted with a lot of precautions.”

Mr. Kayelu disclosed that child labour is prevalent in domestic homes and rural areas where children are tasked to engage in agricultural activities and prevented from attending school.

He said in the domestic sector, labour inspectors are required to obtain a search warrant before inspecting homes where child labour is being perpetrated.

The Labour Inspector added that with the rising investment in the mining sector, Government has taken keen interest in ensuring that child labour is discouraged.

Speaking on the same programme, Media Networks on Child Rights and Development (MNCRD) Executive Director, Mr. Henry Kabwe, said the community needs to be sensitized on children’s rights as stipulated in the Children’s Code Act no.12 of 2022.

Mr. Kabwe said there’s need to promote child work that will ensure that children attain the requisite skills that will help with the development of the nation.

“We need to promote child work because we don’t want a situation where children grow up without a skill,” he said.

“Child work is something that a child can do and still go to school, have their career whilst child labour is something that will deprive them from achieving what they want to achieve.”

Mr. Kabwe commended Government for introducing the free education policy as it will help in reducing cases of child labour.

(Picture highlights taken in Gwembe District, Zambia)

EMPLOYERS REQUESTED TO SUBMIT LABOUR STATISTICS

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY
PRESS STATEMENT
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
January 3,2025
EMPLOYERS REQUESTED TO SUBMIT LABOUR STATISTICS
Lusaka: Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Labour Commissioner Givens
Muntengwa has asked all employers to submit employment relationship statistics, failure to which they will be penalized.
According to a circular issued to all employers on the mandatory submission of labour statistics, Mr. Muntengwa indicated that the law requires that statistics regarding employment relationships must be submitted and maintained pursuant to Sections 12 (1) and (2), 22 (1) and (6), 50 (2), 55 (2) (c) and 62 (1) of the Employment Code Act No.3 of 2019.
The Commissioner has noted with concern that some employers have not been submitting the said statistics to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security as required by Law, impeding the Ministry from maintaining an updated administrative labour market statistics demonstrating the trends of
employment in the Country, which is critical to policy and legal interventions aimed at improving the labour market.
Mr. Muntengwa said non-compliance with the law may attract sanctions under Sections 12 (3), 133 (1) and 135 of the Employment Code Act.
He said statistics should be submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Employment Code Act No.3 of 2019 to the Ministry of Labour and Social
Security according to timelines provided by law.
Employers are required to submit hard copies of the employment relationship statistics to the Labour Commissioner’s office or by post using the address
below, while soft copies should be sent to mlss@info.gov.zm and to the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Mukamasole M.Kasanda, on email address: Mukamasole.Kasanda@mlss.gov.zm.
Mr. Muntengwa has also emphasized on the payment of wages to employees in the Republican Currency in line with Section 67 (1) of the Employment Code
Act.
“The import of Section 67(1) of the Employment Code Act is that in all instances, wages shall be paid in Kwacha. The only exercisable option relates to the mode of payment of wages where the employee can choose to be paid by postal order; money order; cheque; or by an electronic payment system. You
are accordingly directed to comply with the provisions of the law failure to which necessary sanctions shall apply,” said Mr. Muntengwa.
Issued by:
Mwaka Ndawa (Ms.)
Principal Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Labour and Social Security
Cell: 0972148232
The Labour Commissioner
Ministry of Labour and Social Security
New Government Complex
Independence Avenue
P.O. Box 32186
LUSAKA

Happy New Year to you all!

As we step into the New Year, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security extends its warmest wishes to you and your families. May this year bring you prosperity, good health, and happiness. We remain committed to improving the welfare and working conditions of all citizens. Together, let’s build a brighter future.