Month: February 2025

Speaking during the 2025 Kaizen conference yesterday themed “Fostering Economic Resilience, Innovation and Growth through Continuous Improvement”, Ms. Tambatamba said Government will transform the KAIZEN Institute of Zambia limited, into an anchor of national productivity.

She said this is aimed at influencing actions towards adopting a productive culture.

Ms. Tambatamba said in order to promote productivity, the Ministry through the National Productivity Development Department (NPDD) and the KAIZEN Institute of Zambia trained 239 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in productivity enhancement services, 77 enterprises were supported with productivity enhancement services, whilst 130 enterprises were applying productivity techniques.

She said the national productivity policy will be revised and a legal framework will be formulated to support its implementation.

The minister said to cushion the impact of drought on households which has negatively impacted productivity, jobs and income growth , Government introduced cash for work, to provide financial relief to vulnerable families.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary, Zechariah Luhanga said the aid grant for the Kaizen project has increased from K3.3 million in 2021 to K6.7 million.

Kaizen Institute Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Tamala Namakobo said Small and Medium Sized enterprises have contributed to economic transformation and job creation pillar of the 8th National Development Plan (8thNDP).

She said K3 million financial gain has been recorded from cost reduction and revenue growth initiatives and 213 jobs were created, which is significant in property reduction.

Japanese ambassador to Zambia TakeuchiKazuyuki said Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will continue supporting Kaizen programs in various sectors, in order to promote quality and productivity improvement.

Former Kaizen Director General in Ethiopia, Getahun Tadesse said the implementation of infrastructure projects is significant to national development and emphasized on project management and prudent resource utilization.

Zambia Federation of Employees (ZFE) president Myra Ngoma said enhanced productivity must be prioritized in production in the small and medium enterprises, the private sector and the public sector.

She emphasized on service delivery through hard work and bridging skills gaps to improve productivity.

And the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) deputy secretary general finance and planning Dr. Evans Chungu urged workers to stay up to date with industry advancements by embracing emerging technologies such as, artificial intelligence and data science which have robbed many of their jobs.

By PR Unit,

Ministry of Labour and Social Security

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Vice-President Mutale Nalumango during the 3rd Private Sector Day Re-run meeting at Mulungushi international Conference Centre yesterday, President Hichilema said government will see to it that it creates positive market conditions, so that the business sector fosters job growth.

“I want to assure you that Government remains committed to reducing business costs and improving the ease of doing business,” he said.

In her contributions during the interactive session, Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba (MP), called for enhanced youth participation in job creation by honing their skills, so that they are capable of creating employment.

Ms. Tambatamba said there’s need to transition from informality to formality.

“The vision is organizing ourselves from all the sectors to play our part. What we need to do is build the young people and change the narrative that jobs are scarce. We need to tell them that they were born innovators,” said Ms. Tambatamba.

The event was attended by cabinet minister’s, permanent secretaries, senior government officials and members of the public.

By PR Unit,

Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Ms. Tambatamba said the informal economy takes up a large share of the labour market and currently stands at 70% while the formal sector only takes up 30%.

The minister was speaking when she opened the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions Biannual Conference, yesterday at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

Ms. Tambatamba further said human capital is crucial for economic growth, hence the need to foster employee welfare.

“We want to see a movement that will promote the well being of workers. We need to work hard as tripartite partners to transform the informal sector. Be proactive in policy implementation, bring new ideas to the table,” she said.

Ms. Tambatamba re-assured the public of President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to creating more jobs to expand economic growth, as employment opportunities bring relief in Worker households.

The Minister said Government’s dedication to job creation has been demonstrated through the unprecedented re-awakening of the dead mining industry.

Ms. Tambatamba also indicated that Government is refining the National Pension’s Scheme (NAPSA) Act to provide a harmonized pension system for enhanced member’s benefits.

She urged the labour movement to remodel their processes in order to avoid fragmentation, as it hampers worker representation.

Labour Commissioner Givens Muntengwa said government cannot be faulted for registering unions, as preventing the formulation of unions will amount to abrogating the law.

He said the labour movement should come up with proposals on how to manage the multiplicity of unions, which will be considered by the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council (TCLC).

Earlier, ZCTU president Blake Mulala expressed concern that proliferation has weakened the labour movement.

However, he commended government for promoting good governance.

By PR Unit,

Ministry of Labour and Social Security

She said in order to alleviate informality, employers ought to invest in workforce development, adopt fair employment practices and promote transitions to formal employment.

Mrs Nalumango noted that skills gap has hindered economic growth, as employers across African Regional Labour Administration Centre countries are challenged with procuring human resource, due to lack of the requisite expertise for jobs that are available on the labour market.

The Vice-President was speaking when she officially opened the ARLAC Governing Council meeting yesterday.

Mrs Nalumango urged development partners and ARLAC to continue providing technical support and platforms for regional cooperation to help in tackling informal employment.

She noted that about 70% of the work force is in the informal sector and lack social protection, fair wages, and safe working conditions.

The Vice-President stated that the ARLAC Governing Council meeting was timely as Zambia is on course in bettering pension schemes, and will soon table a Bill before Parliament to refine pension schemes; following Cabinet’s approval on January 30.

ARLAC chairperson Edgar Moyo re-affirmed the institution’s commitment to strengthen labour systems through training in order to promote decent work.

He said ARLAC will enhance labour administrative systems through training, research, consultancy; and to promote formality it was entering into partnership with learning institutions to provide programs that will address challenges on the labour market across the region.

And International Labour Organization (ILO) assistant director general and regional director for Africa Ms. Funfan Kayirangwa in a speech delivered on her behalf by the ILO representative and country director for Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia Wellington Chibebe, called for immediate action in tackling pressure on the labour market to create a fairer and sustainable future.

“I urge all of us to join forces to innovate around addressing informality in Africa. We need to create more and better jobs, embrace youthful energy, emerging technology advancement in response to climate change,” she said.

By PR Unit,

Ministry of Labor and Social Security