Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
President Edgar Lungu
President Edgar Lungu has lifted the two years wage freeze which was imposed on the public service from last year.
President Lungu has also directed the Secretary to the Cabinet and relevant government officials to open negotiations with public service unions.
He has further given a deadline of up to December 2015 by which time all negotiations for new conditions of service for public service workers must be concluded.
The President states that he has made this decision because he cannot and will not allow workers to be needlessly exploited.
He says he fully appreciates that workers are the engine of the economy and the pillar of the nation and that by saying this he is not trying to undermine the labor movement in the country because he is also aware that they are doing their role.
The Head of State is of the view that he is not losing any political capital to agree with the labour movement that government needs to look after workers because he thinks that looking after workers is the right thing to do.
He was speaking this morning in Lusaka when he graced this year’s Labour Day commemorations under the theme: ‘Promoting National Economic Growth through Job Creation, Free Collective Bargaining and Respect for Workers’ Rights’.
And President Lungu has reaffirmed that job creation still remains the Patriotic Front administration’s core priority since its being given the mandate to govern the country in 2011.
President Lungu says in this regard records show that a total of 483, 688 jobs have been created in the country as at January 2015.
He however notes that the majority of these jobs have only been in Tourism, Construction, Agriculture and Service sector the more reason he wishes the country could breakout from this box and create new jobs in other areas.