Zambian workers deserve better – HH

UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says there is very little to celebrate on Labour Day when people are paid low salaries amidst rising costs of living,saying they deserve better

In his May Day message, Mr Hichilema states that even this year’s Labour Day theme: “Promoting National Economic Growth through Job Creation, Free Collective Bargaining and Respect for the Workers’ Rights” is a mockery as the opposite is what is happening.

Mr Hichilema says what the Zambian workers need is a salary that considers the rising costs of living, clearly laid out retirement plan for them to enjoy the fruits of their labour when they retire and good working conditions that enable them to advance in their careers without heavy bureaucracy.

He says workers expect government to devise consistent policies that minimizes the need to tax its people to fund poorly contracted loans.

Mr Hichilema adds that workers deserve career advancing training opportunities that will teach them modern skills to increase productivity and generate a sense of personal fulfillment.

He says under the UPND Government, Labour Day will be the day to appreciate the workforce, paying workers what they truly deserve and rewarding them for their service to the nation.

Mr Hichilema says to do this, the UPND’s approach will be to lift the wage freeze and enhance salaries for workers to match the cost of living, lift the employment freeze to reduce dependency on the few that are employed and reduce the retirement age to 55 years and ensure all retirees get their retirement package on the last day of working.

He adds that the UPND will also reduce unnecessary expenditures that will reduce the need to tax workers at current exorbitant rates and create a professional civil service.